SKETCH 


OF 


MINISTER  OF  THE  GOSPEL, 


OF  THE 


M.  E.  CHURCH 

BY  REV.  F.  E.  MARINE. 


"Earth  Exclianged  for  Heaven." 


Behold !  God  is  my  SALVATION  ;  I  will  trust  and  not  be  afraid ;  for 
JEHOVAH  is  my  strength  and  my  song;  He  also  is  become  my  sal- 
vation. ISAIAH  xii:  2. 

Epitaph  of  J.  H. 


BALTIMORE,  M  i>. 
HOFFMAN     &.    CO.,    I'RINTEIIS 

No.  295  W.  Baltimore  Street. 
1879 


Entered  according  lo  an  Act  of   Congress,  in  the  year  1879,  by 

REV.  FLETCHER  E.  MARINE, 
In  the  office-  of  the  Lilrarian  of  C(.-n$ress,  at  Watfiingtofl,  D  C. 


—BY — 

REV.  ISAAC  P.  COOK,  OF  BALTIMORE. 

Rev.  Fletcher  E.  Marine,  author  of  the  Life  of  the  lat« 
Rev.  John  Hersey,  has  modestly  styled  his  valuable  publica- 
tion, a  "Sketch,"  of  that  remarkable  and  well  known,  itiner- 
ant local  preacher,  plain  and  unpretentious,  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 

The  accompanying  pages  have  been  examined  with  thrilling 
interest,  and  pleasant  memories  of  that  holy,  self-denying, 
charitable  man  of  God. 

All  who  ever  knew  him,  will  recognize  the  unique  portraiture 
of  the  man,  whose  single  object  was  to  glorify  God,  and 
promote  the  salvation  of  his  fellow-men. 

To  all  other  Christian  people,  the  volume  may  prove  to  be 
a  pleasing,  useful  contribution  to  religious  biography. 

The  advent  of  Mr.  Hersey.  as  missionary  and  street  preach- 
er in  Baltimore  City,  occurred  in  1836.  At  that  period,  the 
"Wesleyan  Home  Missionary  Society"  was  formed  and  which 
still  exists.  The  now  departed  Samuel  M.  Barry,  was  Presi- 
dent ;  John  Nelson  McJilton,  Secretary,  and  the  writer, 
Treasurer. 

The  objects  of  the  Society  were  to  improve  the  religious 
condition  of  the  poor  and  neglected,  and  to  relieve  their  tem- 
poral necessities  as  far  as  possible. 

On  the  presentation  of  a  proper  Church  certificate  of  char- 
acter, Mr.  Hersey  was  employed  as  missionary  for  two  years, 
at  a  salary  of  three  hundred  dollars  per  annum,  which  was 
paid  by  the  Society. 

Permission  was  obtained  from  the  then  Mayor  of  Baltimore, 
for  Mr.  Hersey  to  preach  the  Gospel  in  the  streets  and  mar- 
ket places. 

His  first  sermon  was  delivered  near  the  centre  of  the  city, 
in  a  neighborhood  of  more  than  doubtful  character.  The 


INTRODUCTION. 

hearers  formed  a  motley  crowd,  from  well  dressed  ladies  and 
gentlemen,  down  to  the  old  timed  sweep  boy,  with  his  sooty 
blanket ;  the  order  was  excellent  and  the  sermon  impressive. 
That  was  the  commencement  of  almost  daily  preaching  in 
private  houses  and  public  places,  by  that  tireless,  faithful 
Christian  missionary. 

The  public  were  assured,  that  money  donated  to  charity, 
would  not  be  expended  for  any  other  purpose,  than  the  relief 
of  the  worthy  -poor,  with  fuel  and  bread.  Contributions 
large  and  small,  were  generously  made  by  all  religious  denom- 
inations. 

The  late  excellent  Henry  Patterson,  of  the  Baptist  Church 
and  the  late  worthy  Charles  Howard,  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church,  on  more  than  one  occasion,  quietly  threw 
into  the  door  of  the  house  of  the  treasurer,  fifty  dollars  each, 
with  the  simple  endorsement  "Feed  the  poor." 

These  were  evidences  of  the  stronghold  which  Mr.  Her- 
sey's  piety  and  faithfulness  had  on  the  public  mind. 

The  same  work  of  religious  charity  was  continued  for  a 
number  of  years,  by  his  indefatigable  successors  in  mission- 
ary work. 

The  formation  .and  admirable  management  of  the  City 
"Association  for  the  relief  of  the  poor,"  rendered  smaller 
sources  of  aid,  however  useful,  comparatively  unnecessary. 

From  the  above  date,  the  name  of  John  Hersey,  became 
almost  a  household  word  in  Baltimore  city. 

Mr.  Marine's  "Sketch"'  of  that  devoted  missionary,  fur- 
nishes far  more  important  and  interesting  facts. 

All  who  knew  Mr.  Hersey.  are  aware  that  he  was  a  peculiar 
man  in  dress,  articles  of  food,  places  and  hours  for  rest,  in 
fasting  and  prayer.  His  manner  of  life,  sometimes  rendered 
him  caustic  and  severe,  t6wards  those  who  did  not  fully  meas- 
ure up  to  his  standard  of  morals. 

At  a  certain  camp  meeting,  Mr.  Hersey  had  preached  at 
night  from  the  narrative,  which  includes  the  words :  "Jesus 
I  know,  and  Paul  I  know  ;  but  whq  are  ye  ?"  The  preachers 
at  the  proper  time,  had  nearly  all  retired  to  their  tents  for 
repose.  A  belated  minister,  found  his  usual  bed  occupied  by 
some  other  person ;  full  of  wit  and  humor,  the  minister  ex- 
claimed "Paul  I  know,  and  these  brethren  I  know;  but  who  art 


INTRODUCTION.  TJ 

thou  in  my  bed?"  That  was  too  much  for  Mr.  Hersey,  who 
was  never  known  to  laugh.  He  instantly  arose  from  his  pal- 
let and  administered  a  scathing  rebuke  for  trifling  with  the 
Scriptures.  He  was  reminded  that  the  words  only  partly 
quoted,  were  uttered  by  an  evil  spirit,  and  not  by  the  blessed 
Jesus,  or  His  Apostle  Paul. 

On  another  occasion,  long  before  day-break,  Mr.  Hersey 
had  arisen  from  his  hard  bed,  and  began  earnest  prayer  to 
God,  which  he  uttered  aloud,  to  the  discomfort  of  the 
sleeping  ministers  in  the  same  tent.  The  late  Rev.  John 
Davis,  remarkable  for  piety  and  good  sense,  arose  from  his 
bed  and  addressed  Mr.  Hersey  at  a  proper  time:  "Before  I 
retire  to  rest,  I  pray  to  Almighty  God  for  the  pardon  of  all 
my  sins,  and  for  my  protection  during  the  night.  Not  ex- 
pecting to  sin  in  my  sleep,  I  can  safely  trust  my  soul  and 
body  to  His  protection,  until  the  night  be  past.  You  seem 
to  be  afraid  to  trust  God,  and  are  disturbing  your  brethren 
with  your  prayers  before  day-break." 

The  cheerful  sun  light  of  Christian  pleasure,  would  have 
been  a  great  relief  to  Mr.  Hersey,  in  his  pilgrimage  to  heav- 
en. 

No  man,  however  religious,  can  be  a  perfect  model  for  his 
fellow  men.  The  good  should  be  imitated,  the  doubtful 
avoided.  In  the  most  important  respect,  Mr.  Hersey  may 
be  followed  safely  by  all. 

Holy,  ardent,  constant  devotion  to  God. 

"Pure  religion  and  undefiled  before  God  and  the  Father  is 
tliis. — To  visit  the  fatherless  and  widows  in  their  affliction, 
and  to  keep  himself  unspotted  from  the  world."  That  pure 
religion  he  possessed  and  practiced. 

Such  a  life  had  a  glorious  consummation.  His  last  hours 
on  earth,  were  scenes  of  glorious  triumph,  through  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.  "Well  done,  thou  good  and  faithful  ser- 
vant, enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord." 

December,  1879. 


(X)NTENTS. 


INTRODUCTION  AND    PREFACE. 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

1  Sketch  of  Rev.  John  Hersey,  5 

2  Indian  Agency  in  Alabama,  1819,       -  -     11 

3  Entering  upon  his  work  as  a  preacher,  -.                   17 

4  His  Christian  and  ministerial  character,  -         -     19 

5  African  Mission  at  Cape  Palmas,  1833,  -                   31 

6  Return  from  Liberia, 

7  Curious  Boy,  42 

8  Miscellaneous  Subjects,      -  -     44 

9  Will  the  Machine  be  going  ?    -  -        57 

10  Letter  from  Rev.  J.  F.  Chaplain        -  -      65 

11  Labors  on  Church  Hill  Circuit,  68 

Dorchester         "  -     71 

12  Reminiscences  by  Rev.  S.  W.  Thomas,  -                   77 
Recollections  by  a  Friend,  -  81 
Letter  from  the  Rev.  J.  Pasterfield,  83 

13  Baltimore  City  Mission  in  1853,  -     84 

14  Letters  from  Ministers,  89 

15  Recollections — Robert  Turner's  Letter  -    102 

16  His  last  days  on  earth,          .  .105 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

PAGE 

Mr.  Hersey's  Diary  in  1853,         -  141 

Sermon  on  "Christian  Warfare."  -      187 

Address  to  our  Christian  Friends  195 

Learning  and  Learned  Institutions,  -      197 

Mr.  Hersey's  Publications  -  207 

Interesting  Letters  to  various  persons,        -  -      208 

CONCLUSION,       -------  224 


-PREFACE- 

Biography  of  one  who  is  no  more,  is  the  taking  that  indi- 
vidual from  the  dust,  that  he  may  live  over  again  his  past 
history,  and  impress  afresh  upon  his  friends  his  various  traits 
— lovely  or  otherwise,  to  a  prosterity  who  knew  him  not. 
Another  reason  for  it  is,  the  subject  of  it  was  connected  with 
enterprises,  the  distant  outlines  of  which,  will  ever  be  held 
dear  into  whatever  section  of  country  that  enterprise  may  be 
carried.  As  long  as  the  civilization  of  America  and  Africa, 
and  their  religious  redemption  shall  be  dear  to  the  Philan- 
thropist, so  long  every  memoir  will  be  valued  that  may  give 
the  history  of  an  individual  that  has  connected  with  him  a 
single  important  incident  in  the  commencement  of  so  great  a 
work. 

John  Hersey  who  was  extensively  known  for  his  plainness, 
simplicity  and  zealous  preaching  of  pure  Christianity,  in 
Africa  and  in  the  United  States — North  and  South  ;  tales  of 
his  Courage,  of  his  valor,  his  deeds  of  daring,  worthy  of  the 
days  of  Martyrs,  hath  awakened  in  me  an  ardent  desire  to 
know  more  concerning  him. 

I  have  been  trying  to  learn  his  history,  and  rescue  from 
oblivion,  facts  that  would  soon  be  lost  forever. 

The  history  of  many  of  the  noble  pioneers  of  Methodism  is 
unwritten,  except  in  the  records  of  eternity  ;  many  of  them 
died  and  were  buried,  and  no  monument,  or  tombstone,  to 
tell  where  their  dust  is  sleeping.  There  is  an  unwritten 
history,  which,  if  it  could  be  recovered,  would  be  invaluable 
to  the  church  ;  but  it  is  now  too  lute.  How  few  of  the  men 
who  were  acquainted  with  Methodism  in  its  heroic  age,  re- 
main to  tell  the  story ;  this  shows  the  importance  of  early 
gathering  up  historical  facts  and  incidents,  and  recording 
them  ;  for  the  fathers  will  not  be  with  us  long  to  repeat  the 
story.  The  fathers,  where  are  they  ?  and  the  prophets,  do  they 
live  forever  ? 

In  order  to  obtain  light  in  regard  to  Father  Ilcrscy,  I 
have  conversed  with  those  who  were  personally  acquainted 
with  him,  and  with  others  I  have  corresponded. 


The  author  takes  pleasure  in  referring  to  the  assistance 
which  he  received  in  the  preparation  of  the  work,  from  Rev 
J.  F.  Chaplain,  D.D.,  G.  W.  Lybrand,  J.  Pasterfield,  M.  C. 
Johnson,  S.  W.  Thomas,  of  the  Philadelphia  Conference  : 
Rev.  B.  F.  Price,  Joseph  Dare,  J.  A.  Brindle.  J.  T.  Van- 
berkalow,  Rev.  E.  J.  Way,  of  the  Wilmington  Conference  ; 
Rev.  J.  H.  Brown,  D.  D.,  George  W.  Cooper,  of  the  Balti- 
more Conference,  the  Maryland  Historical  Society,  the  Pea- 
body  Institute,  the  History  of  Methodism,  by  Revs.  N.  Bangs 
and  J.  Lednum  ;  also,  the  Annual  Reports  of  Local  Preachers' 
National  Conventions.  He  also  returns  thanks  to  many  of  his 
brethren  in  the  ministry,  and  membership,  for  important  facts 
furnished,  as  to  this  servant  of  the  most  High  ;  particularly 
Rev.  Charles  Reese,  at  whose  house  Father  Hersey  exchang- 
ed mortality  for  immortality,  shouting  with  his  expiring 
breath,  "Salvation;"  who  kindly  placed  in  my  possession, 
letters  and  what  information  he  was  in  possession  of,  in  refer- 
ence to  his  old  friend,  with  the,  hope  and  prayer  that  I 
would  be  able  to  furnish  to  the  church  and  world,  the  life 
and  character  of  Father  Hersey.  I  have  done  the  best  I 
could,  under,  I  believe  the  guidance  of  Divine  Providence  ; 
how  far  I  have  succeeded,  shall  leave  others  to  judge  ;  but 
after  all,  theie  is  an  unwritten  history  of  the  wonderful  man, 
whose  fame  is  in  all  the  churches,  and  will  long  be  remem- 
bered. The  fragmentary  leaves  we  have  been  able  to  gather 
only  make  us  desire  a  more  complete  history  ;  we  have  only 
the  outlines,  we  would  have  a  full  and  perfect  portrait ;  we 
have  only  the  preface,  we  wish  for  the  volume. 

This  little  book  has  cost  me  more  time  and  labor,  than  I 
shall  ever  receive  credit  for  ;  but  if  it  has  rescued  one  of  the 
noble  heroes  of  Methodism  from  oblivion,  that  otherwise 
would  have  perished  and  been  forgotten,  and  if  it  inspires 
any  with  a  hatred  to  sin,  and  a  love  for  righteousness ;  if  the 
publication  of  this  memoir  shall  be  the  means  of  reviving  the 
earlier  spirit  of  Methodism,  and  contributing  to  the  return 
to  its  former  purity,  spirituality  and  simplicity.  I  shall  not 
regret  my  labor  of  love. 

F.  E.  M. 


"SKETCH- 


CHAPTER  I. 

Seventeen  years,  Nov.  17th,  1879,  will  have  passed  away, 
since  that  unyielding  champion  of  the  Cross — JOHN 
HERSEY^  fell,  sword  in  hand,  shouting,  "victory!  victory  !! 
victory !!!  salvation ;"  loaded  with  honors,  covered  with 
glory,  and  went  up  to  receive  his  crown 

JOHN  HERSEY  was  one  of  the  most  remarkable  men  of  an 
age,  that  developed  many  striking  characters  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Ministry,  as  a  self-sacrificing  Christian  minister  of 
the  New  Testament ;  teaching  by  precept  and  example,  the 
way  to  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven — few  his  equals — none  his 
superiors. 

To  Delaware,  we  are  indebted  for  this  remarkable  man  of 
God. 

Wilmington  was  among  the  earliest  settlements  in  the 
country  ;  Fort  Christianna,  near  where  the  city  now  stands, 
fell  before  the  fire  of  the  artillery  of  the  Danes,  and  the  sur- 
rounding country  passed  from  under  the  dominion  of  Sweden 
in  1665.  In  the  suburbs  of  the  city,  still  remains  the  quaint 
old  church  of  those  distant  times,  and  around  it  are  the 
graves  of  pastors  and  members  who  died  in  the  early  part  of 
the  seventeenth  century,  whose  bodies  there  await  the  final 
resurrection.  Near  the  church  mingles  the  waters  of  the 
Christianna  and  the  romantic  Brandywine ;  eight  miles 
above,  on  the  llth  of  September,  1777,  the  waters  of  the 
last  named  stream,  ran  crimson  from  Chad's  ford,  where  the 
battle  of  Brandywine  was  fought  and  lost. 

Methodism  was  introduced  into  Delaware,  by  Capt.  Thos. 
Webb,  in  1769 ;  the  first  Methodist  Society  in  the  State  was 
formed  in  New  Castle  County,  1770. 

Just  four  miles  beyond,  or  west  of  Christianna,  there 
lived  Isaac  and  Jane  Ilersey,  where  it  is  written  in  history, 
that  as  early  as  1771,  they  opened  their  house  to  Methodist 
Preachers  and  Mtthodtst  Prtaching ;  here  a  society  was 
raised  up,  and  afterwards  a  church  called  Salem,  was  built 


6  SKETCH  OF 

about  1809.  This  is  one  of  the  oldest  appointments  in 
the  State  of  Delaware.  The  house  of  his  brother,  Solomon 
Hersey,  was  the  first  place  at  which  Mr.  Asbury  preached 
on  the  Manor,  Cecil  County,  Maryland.  He  had  the  preach- 
ing at  his  house  for  a  number  of  years  ;  and  though  the  first 
Methodist  preaching  on  the  Eastern  shore  of  Maryland  was 
in  Kent  County,  yet  the  evidence  in  the  case  leads  to  the  be- 
lief, that  the  first  society  on  this  shore  was  formed  at  Solomon 
Hersey 's  house,  in  1772. 

This  society  is  still  represented  at  the  Manor  Chapel. 
Another  brother  of  his,  Benjamin  Hersey,  was  the  leading 
spirit,  if  not  the  father  of  the  union  appointment  on  Smyrna 
Circuit;  Rev.  Benjamin  Abbot  preached  at  another  brother's, 
named  J.  Hersey,  in  1780. 

JOHN  HERSEY,  son  of  Isaac  and  Jane  Hersey,  was 
born  August  2nd,  1786.  His  family  being  identified  with 
the  early  history  of  Methodism,  the  subject  of  this  Memoir, 
enjoyed  from  these  connections,  marked  religious  advantages. 
He  often  referred  to  the  influence  of  mothers,  and  spoke  in  his 
last  illness  of  his  own  precious  mother,  and  that  in  answer 
to  her  prayers,  he  was  brought  to  Christ.  She  in  early  life 
was  a  Friend,  and  wben  she  became  a  Methodist,  she  retained 
the  simplicity  of  manner  and  plainness  of  dress,  which  charac- 
terizes that  people.  Highly  favored  as  he  was,  he  spent 
the  earlier  years  of  his  manhood,  as  a  man  of  the  world. 

In  early  life  he  was  convinced  that  the  Lord  had  a  work  for 
him  to  do.  As  he  grew  up  to  riper  years,  his  convictions  were, 
that  at  some  period  of  his  life,  he  would  be  a  Methodist 
Preacher.  In  more  mature  years  he  threw  off  those  convic- 
tions, by  conforming  to  the  gayety,  fashions,  and  sinful 
pleasures  of  the  world  ;  his  venerable  parents  died  before  he 
reached  his  majority  ;  the  date  of  their  demise  we  are  not  in 
possession  of.  Bishop  Asbury  who  paid  them  his  annual 
visits  from  the  year  1772,  writes,  August  1st,  1801  :  "I 
could  not  pass  my  old  friend,  Isaac  Hersey,  without  calling; 
we  could  with  gratitude  review  the  past,  and  dwell  upon  the 
present  dealings  of  the  Lord  with  us  as  a  people,  and  say — 
What  hath  God  wrought?"  The  last  entry  which  he  makes 
in  his  journal  of  his  old  friend  I  H.,  is,  Aug.  3rd,  1802: 
"Came  as  far  as  Isaac  Hersey's,  dined  with  him" ;  the  proba- 
bility, before  his  next  annual  round,  his  old  friend  was  away 
in  the  Glory-land. 


JOHN  HERSEY. 


r 


The  boyhood  and  youth  of  John  Hersey  passed  swiftly 
away — no  more  eventful,  than  may  be  inferred  from  the 
humble  quietness  of  his  situation.  It  was  an  important  period 
to  him  ;  for  he  was  laying  the  foundation  of  his  usefulness, 
in  the  hardihood,  industry,  energy  and  intelligence  of  his 
character. 

At  an  early  period  of  his  eventful  life  we  hear  of  him  opera- 
ting salt  works  in  the  lower  county,  on  the  Eastern  shore 
of  Maryland.  It  is  related  that  Father  Hersey,  when  a  young 
man  of  23,  was  much  overcome  by  listening  to  a  sermon  preach- 
ed by  Rev.  Freeborn  Garrettson,  at  Georgetown,  D.  C.,  at 
the  house  of  Bro.  Elliason,  who  was  a  relative  of  Father 
Hersey  ;  he  was  at  this  time  a  visitor,  and  meeting  here  this 
aged  servant  of  God,  and  former  pastor  and  friend  of  his 
father's  house,  no  wonder  he  should  be  overcome. 

How  painfully  pleasing  the  fond  recollection 

Of  youthful  emotions  and  innocent  joy, 
When  blessed  with  parental  advice  and  affection, 

Surrounded  with  mercies,  with  peace  from  on  high, 
I  still  view  the  chair  of  my  father  and  mother, 

The  seats  of  their  offspring  as  ranged  on  each  hand, 
And  that  richest  book  which  excels  every  other, 

The  family  Bible  which  lay  on  the  stand, 

The  old-fashioned  Bible,  the  dear  blessed  Bible, 
The  family  Bible  that  lay  on  the  stand. 

That  Bible,  the  volume  of  God's  inspiration, 

At  morn  and  at  evening  could  yield  us  delight, 
The  prayer  of  our  sire  was  a  sweet  invocation, 

For  mercy  by  day,  and  safety  through  night ; 
Our  hymns  of  thanksgiving  with  harmony  swelling, 

All  warm  from  the  heart  of  a  family  band, 
Half  raised  us  from  earth  to  that  rapturous  dwelling, 

Described  in  the  Bible  that  Jay  on  the  stand, 

The  old-fashioned  Bible,  the  dear  blessed  Bible, 
The  family  Bible  that  lay  on  the  stand. 

Ye  scenes  of  tranqnilitj',  long  have  we  parted, 

My  hopes  almost  gone,  and  my  parents  no  more, 
In  sorrow  and  sadness,  I  live  broken  hearted, 

And  wwnder  unknown  on  a  far  distant  shore  ; 
Yet  how  can  I  doubt  my  Kedeemer's  protection, 

Forgetful  of  gifts  from  His  bountiful  hand  .' 
Oh,  let  mo  with  patience  receive  His  correction, 

And  think  of  the  Bible  that  lay  on  the  stand. 

The  old-fashioned  Bible,  the  dear  blessed  Bible,  > 
The  family  Bible  that  Iny  on  the  stand. 


8  SKETCH  OF 

Bro.  Garrettson  was  now  paying  his  last  visit  to  his  spirit- 
ual children  who  had  come  from  Delaware,  and  the  Eastern 
shore  of  Maryland,  and  settled  in  Washington  and  George- 
town. In  speaking  of  this  visit,  Bro.  Garrettsen  in  his 
journal  (at  Baltimore.)  writes  :  June  26th,  1809,  "I  took  the 
stage,  and  in  the  evening,  arrived  at  Georgetown:  I  lodged 
at  Mr.  Elliason's,  a  very  worthy  family  ;  they  are  some  of 
my  old  Eastern  shore  friends.  The  27th,  I  preached  in  the 
evening  to  many  people,  with  a  degree  of  freedom  ;  28th,  in 
the  afternoon,  Bro.  Elliason  came  for  me  ;  this  evening  I 
preached  in  Georgetown  again  ;  here  we  have  a  respectable 
society;  and  had  I  been  an  Apostle,  they  could  not  have  treated 
me  much  better."  Although  Mr.  Hersey  was  much  affected  on 
this  occasion,  all  those  impressions  passed  away  in  the  life  of 
gayety,  which  he  led;  he  always  declared  that  he  would  be  a 
Methodist  Preacher  before  his  death,  which  was  completely 
verified. 

John  Hersey,  about  this  time,  established  himself  in  Mer-. 
can  tile  business  in  Georgetown,  D  C.,  and  one  writer  in- 
forms us,  he  purchased  in  New  York  sixty  thousand  dollars 
worth  of  goods  and  paid  for  them,  but  a  second  adventure 
was  not  so  successful  The  state  of  the  country  at  this 
period  was  unsettled;  war  was  declared  with  Great  Britain, 
and  "to  arms"  was  the  cry  from  Massachusetts  to  Georgia, 
on  both  land  and  sea.  The  British  having  entered  Washing- 
ton in  1814,  burnt  the  Capitol  and  President's  house,  as  well 
as  destroying  private  property  ;  soon  after  the  war  came  to  a 
close,  a  collapse  in  business  circles  caused  him  to  fail. 

Rev.  Wm.  C.  Lipscomb,  an  aged  minister  of  the  M.  P. 
Church,  of  Washington,  D.  C.,  writes  March  19th,  1879: 
"Father  Hersey  65  or  70  years  ago,  during  his  early  man- 
hood, was  engaged  in  mercantile  business  in  Georgetown,  D. 
C. ;  during  this  period  of  Mr.  Hersey's  life,  he  was  a  gay 
and  fashionable  young  man.  What  cause  produced  his  fail- 
ure, I  never  heard  ;  soon  after  this  occurred,  he  left  George- 
town :  where  he  went  I  never  knew;  he  subsequently  return- 
ed, but  evidently,  a  very  different  man — think  at  that 
time  he  had  commenced  preaching.  During  his  sojourn 
thenceforth,  we  became  pretty  well  acquainted,  and  he 
passed  a  few  months  in  my  family.  I  esteemed  him  as  a 
very  pious,  self-denying  Christian,  though  extremely  eccen- 
tric in  his  dress."  Bro.  Thomas  S.  Clark,  a  venerable  and 


JOHN  MERSEY.  9 

highly  esteemed  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  in  E.   Balto. 
Station,  informs  the  writer,  that  he  heard  of  Father   llersey 
when  a  boy ;  he  was  in  the  milling  business,  in  Mathews  Co. , 
Virginia. 

C.  B.  Hudgins,  an  aged  and  esteemed  Baptist  brother, 
writes : 

Mathews  Co.,  Va.,  Aug.  4th,  1879. 
DEAR  SIR  : 

Received  your  letter  of  inquiry  of  Rev.  John  Hersey. 
There  was  such  a  man  came  to  Mathews  Co.;  the  date  I  do- 
not  know,  but  believe  it  was  in  the  year  of  1815  or  16  ;  where 
he  came  from  I  do  not  know  ;  he  ran  a  saw  and  grist  mill, 
which  were  burnt  down  ;  during  the  time  he  ran  those  mills,  he 
was  a  wicked  man.  I  was  a  mill  boy,  that  used  to  go  to  his 
mills,  but  the  Lord  took  his  heart  by  taking  his  mills  away. 

Hersey  left  Mathews  County;  when  he  returned,  he  was  a 
changed  man,  altogether.  I  do  believe  he  was  a  converted 
man.  He  then  traveled  to  Richmond,  Fredericksburg  and 
elsewhere,  preaching  ;  he  wore  his  beard  and  hair  the  same 
length,  well  down  his  back,  he  wore  no  shoes  on  his  feet, 
would  not  sleep  on  a  bed,  but  a  pallet ;  ho  was  a  Methodist 
believer,  and  the  churches  in  which  his  notices  were  given, 
would  be  filled  ;  the  great  talk  of  Bro.  Hersey,  was  like  that 
of  Spurgeon. 

Bro.  Lipscomb,  lost  sight  of  Hersey  from  Georgetown.  He 
says  he  left ;  where  he  went  he  never  knew  ;  but  as  the  risin  g 
and  setting-of  the  Sun,  so  with  Father  Hersey  :  he  could  not 
be  hid.  Bro.  Lipscomb  lost  the  sight,  Bro.  Hudgins  gained 
it — the  one  knew  not  whither  he  went,  the  other  from  whence 
he  came  ;  so  it  was  with  John  Hersey.  He  rolled  around 
with  the  year,  and  never  stood  still,  till  the  Master  appeared  ; 
for  a  season  he  disappeared  from  both,  neither  knew  whither 
he  went,  nor  when  he  would  return.  One  says  he  was  a 
fashionable,  gay  young  man,  the  other  "the  most  wicked 
he  ever  saw." 

Hark!  Beloved  brethren,  hear  the  Master,  "I "will  show 
John  Hersey  what  great  things  he  must  suffer  for  my  name's 
sake,  and  the  Gospel's,  for  he  is  a  chosen  vessel  unto  the 
Lord  ;  and  must  testify  of  me  to  the  Africans,  as  well  as  the 
Red  men  of  the  forest ;  thus  saith  the  Lord.  John  Hersey, 
your  salt  works  of  the  Atlantic,  to  you,  are  a  thing  of  the 


10  SKETCH  OF 

past ;  your  merchandise,  like  the  early  dew  of  the  morn- 
ing, has  passed  away.  You  retired  to  the  secluded  swamps 
of  the  Kappahannoek ;  thy  mills  are  burned  with  fire.  I 
have  called  and  ye  have  refused,  I  have  called  again ;  set 
thy  house  in  order,  I  have  a  work  for  thee  t*o  do,  no  other  can 
perform  ;  get  ye  up,  go  administer  justice  and  judgment  to  my 
poor  and  down  trodden  people,  the  Africans  and  Indians,  in 
the  desert  swamps  of  Alabama  ;  thou  shalt  testify  of  me  to 
them,  and  shall  be  as  the  voice  of  John,  that  crieth  in  the 
wilderness,  'prepare  ye  the  way  of  the  Lord  ;  make  straight 
in  the  desert  a  highway  for  our  God.'  I  will  be  enquired  of 
by  this  people,  and  thou  shalt  lift  up  a  standard.  Behold 
thou  shall  call  a  nation  that  thou  knowest  not,  and  nations 
that  knew  not  thee,  shall  run  unto  thee,  because  of  the  Lord 
thy  God  and  the  Holy  One  of  Israel,  for  he  hath  glorified  thee; 
the  wilderness  and  the  solitary  place  shall  be  glad  for  them, 
and  the  desert  shall  rejoice,  and  blossom  as  the  rose,  they 
shall  see  the  glory  of  the  Lord,  and  the  excellency  of  our 
God.  Then  shall  thy  light  break  forth  as  the  morning,  and 
thine  health  spring  forth  speedily,  and  thy  righteousness 
shall  go  before  thee :  the  glory  of  thS  Lord  shall  be  thy  re- 
ward. Fear  thou  not,  for  I  am  with  thee  ;  be  not  dismayed, 
for  I  am  thy  God,  1  will-  strengthen  thee  ;  yea,  I  will  help 
thee  j^yea,  I  will  uphold  thee  with  the  right  hand  of  my 
righteousness,  and  will  bring  thee  up  again  in  peace." 

Having  obtained  strength  of  the  Lord,  and  his  comfortable 
assurance  that  His  presence  should  go  with  him.  Father  Her- 
sey  conferred  not  with  flesh  and  blood,  but  obediently  left  all 
to  follow  Christ. 

Bro.  C.  B.  Hudgins  informs  us,  that  God  took  his  heart, 
by  taking  his  mills,  which  gives  us  a  key  to  the  commence- 
ment of  the  religious  life  of  true  devotion  to  his  Lord  and  Mas- 
ter's divine  call. 

Father  Hersey,  writes,  Greensboro,  Green  Co  ,  Alabama, 
December  13th,  1859.  "I  partly  began  my  Christian  and 
ministerial  life  in  this  State,  nearly  forty  years  since,"  which 
takes  us  back  to  the  year,  1819  as  the  probable  year  his  mill 
burnt,  when  he  started  for  the  kingdom  of  heaven, 


JOHN  HERSEY.  11 


CHAPTER  II. 
INDIAN  AGENCY  IN  ALABAMA,  1819. 

Ou  the  4th -of  March,  1817,  James  Monroe,  of  Virginia, 
became  President  of  the  United  States,  and  Daniel  D. 
Tompkius,  of  New  York,  Vice-President.  The  new  Presi- 
dent followed  the  sauie  general  policy  as  his  predecessor ;  he 
called  John  Quincy  Adams  to  become  Secretary  of  State,  and 
Wm  H.  Crawford,  of  Georgia,  was  placed  at  the  head  of  the 
Treasury  Department.  In  December,  John  Calhoun,  of 
South  Carolina,  was  appointed  Secretary  of  War,  and  Wm. 
Wirt,  of  Maryland,  Attorney-General. 

In  the  Summer  of  1817,  ,the  Seminoles,  a  powerful  tribe 
living  within  the  Spanish  Territory  on  the  borders  of  Georgia 
and  Alabama,  joined  by  some  runaway  negroes  and  refugee 
Creeks,  commenced  a  series  of  depredations  on  the  frontier 
settlement. 

Gen.  Gains,  who  commanded  a  post  on  the  Flint  river, 
destroyed  several  of  their  villages,  but  he  encountered  so 
fierce  a  resistance,  that  Jackson  was  ordered  into  service  with 
volunteers  from  Tennessee.  In  March,  1818,  Jackson  took 
the  field  with  his  brave  Tennesseans  ;  he  burnt  a  number  of* 
Seminole  towns;  drove  the  enemy  before  him,  and  seized  on 
their  corn  and  cattle.  During  Monroe's  administration,  five 
new  States  were  admitted  into  the  Union  :  Mississippi, -1817  ; 
Illinois,  1818;  Alabama,  originally  embraced  iu_Mississippi 
Territory,  1819;  Maine,  1820;  Missouri.  1821.  Florida  was 
organized  as  a  territory,  and  Andrew  Jackson  was  appointed 
its  first  Governor ;  as  before  stated,  Alabama  was  admitted 
into  the  Union,  1819,  and  her  Constitution  was  adopted, 
Aug.  2nd,  1819;  Wm.  W.  Bibb  elected  Governor,  John 
Crowell,  representative  to  Congress. 

The  plan  of  a  United  States  Government  trade  with  the 
Indians,  dates  as  far  back  as  the  year  1796 ;  the  system  was 
one  of  pure  humanity  ;  embracing  a  supply  of  the  wants  of 
the  Indians,  and  receiving  in  exchange  from  them,  furs  and 


12  SKETCH  OF 

peltries  at  fair  pric3S.  The  convenience  of  the  Indians  was 
•consulted,  in  establishing  factories  along  the  borders;  suit- 
able and  competent  persons,  as  factors,  clerks  and  interpre- 
ters, were  appointed  to  carry  on  the  trade. 

President  Madison,  appointed  on  the  2J  of  April,  1816, 
Thomas  L.  McKenney,  a  merchant  of  the  District  of  Colum- 
bia, Sup3rintendent  of  the  United  Statas  Indian  Trade,  with 
the  Indian  tribes  ;  which  office  he  held  until  the  agency  was 
abolished. 

In  the  same  year,  Oct.  1819,  Alabama  was  made  a  State. 

John  Hersey,  a  resident  of  Georgetown,  D.  C  ,  recently  a 
merchant  there,  received  the  appointment  under  James 
Monroe's  administration,  to  the  Agents'  trading  house  in 
Alabama,  as  a  suitable  person  to  represent  the  United  States 
Trade  Agency,  and  to  deal  justly  and  mercifully  with  the 
<3hoctaw  Indians ,  which  position  he  held  up  to  Oct.  1822, 
when  the  act,  abolishing  the  United  States  Indian  trade 
-establishment,  was  passed,  when  John  Hersey  returned  to 
Georgetown,  D.  C.,  his  home.  It  will  be  seen  that  Father 
Hersey  was  identified  with  the  fathers  of  his  country  at  this 
early  age,  on  May  6th,  1822.  Provision  was  made  for  the 
appointment  of  an  agent  to  wind  up  the  affairs  of  the  con- 
cern ;  when  Thomas  H.  Benton  made  a  speech  in  the  Senate, 
in  reference  to  abolishing  the  agency,  which  reflected  upon 
the  Superintendent  of  the  Indian  Bureau,  and  lead  to  a 
thorough  examination  of  the  affairs  of  the  agency,  as  well  as 
a  vindication  of  its  efficient  management.  John  Hersey  was 
an  important  witness,  and  we  here  give  his  testimony  as  pub- 
lished in  the  proceedings  of  the  Congressional  examination. 

"I,  John  Hersey,  resident  of  Georgetown,  late  factor  at  the 
Choctaw  trading  house,  in  the  State  of  Alabama,  testify  and 
say,  that  in  October,  1819,  I  was  appointed  factor  at  said 
trading  house,  and  continued  to  act  in  that  capacity  to  Oct. 
1822  ;  that  on  entering  on  the  business  at  said  house,  as  near 
as  I  can  recollect,  th.e  amount  of  goods  delivered  over  to  me 
by  my  predecessor,  was  about  $14,000 ;  many  of  which 
goods  were  so  much  damaged,  or  so  unsalable,  as  to  render 
it  impossible  to  sell  more  than  $2,000  or  $3,000  probably, 
of  them.  During  the  time  I  was  factor,  I  received  as  near 
as  I  now  recollect,  about  $12,000  by  the  year  ;  all  of  which 
came  to  me  through  the  medium  of  Mr.  T.  L.  McKenney ; 


JOHN  HERSEY.  13 

about  oce  sixth  of  which  carne  from  New  Orleans  and 
Mobile,  such  as  coffee,  sugar,  lead  and  salt ;  the  residue 
were  from  Columbia  District  and  New  York.  When  we  re- 
ceived the  goods  at  said  house,  we  generally  received 
accompanying  invoices.  I  then  thought  most  of  the  articles 
were  of  a  fair  price,  and  certainly  of  a  good  quality,  except 
in  a  few  instances ;  some  were  damaged  on  their  passage  from 
Col.  McKenney.  I  received  instructions  to  add  from  66 1  to 
100  per  cent  to,  the  invoice  prices  ;  the  sales,  on  an  average 
for  the  whole  three  years,  were  about  80  per  cent  advance  on 
the  invoice  prices.  In  payment  of  these  things  sold,  I  re- 
ceived deer-skins,  furs,  bees-wax,  tallow  and  cash.  The  re. 
gain  to  the  Government  during  the  whole  three  years,  was 
between  $8,000  and  $9,000,  after  paying  freight  on  such  arti- 
cles as  we  received  from  Mobile,  and  besides  a  remuneration  to 
myself,  and  all  others  employed.  When  I  took  charge  of  the 
house,  I  think,  as  near  as  I  now  can  recollect,  the  amount  of 
outstanding  debts  due  the  Government,  was  upwards  of 
$13,000,  not  more  than  $1,000  of  which  was  probably  col- 
lected while  I  was  there ;  and  I  now  am  of  the  opinion  fiat 
one-third  of  the  remaining  $12,000  may  be  collected.  I 
presume  a  majority  of  the  debtors  to  the  Government  when  I 
went  there,  afterwards  traded  with  ine ;  many  of  whom 
might  deliver  me  peltry  and  other  things  to  an  amount  r-s 
great  as  the  debts,  then  due  from  them  severally  ;  each  one 
Jiowever,  took  other  goods,  to  an  equal  and  sometimes  great- 
er amount,  so  that  in  most  instances,  the  old  debts  remained, 
on  the  books  uncancelled  and  unliquidated." 

JOHN  HERSEY, 
Late  Factor,  C.  T.  If. 
Mr.  Mersey's  second  examination  by  Col  McKenney. 

Question  1st. — Wa's  there  not  in  the  Choctaw  factory 
when  you  took  charge  of  it,  a  large  quantity  of  old  and  un- 
salable goods  ? 

Answer. — There  was. 

2d. — Did  I  not,  in  my  letters,  direct  that  they  should  be 
disposed  of  at  reduced  prices,  and  on  long  credit,  provided, 
you  could  get  unexceptional  srcurity? 

Answer. — I  was  requested  by  you  to  dispose  of  the  old  and 
damaged  goods,  I  think,  at  reduced  prices,  and  long  crjdit, 
provided,  such  security  could  be  obtained. 


14  SKETCH  OF 

Question  3t/. — Were  not  the  goods  which  you  received  of 
me,  in  general,  suitable  and  fairly  charged  ?  And  did  you  not 
do  out  of  them  your  principal  business  ? 

Answer. — To  the  best  of  ray  knowledge,  they  were  charged 
at  fair  prices  ;  they  were  of  good  quality,  and  out  of.  them 
I  did  niy  principal  business,  while  there. 

The  reader  will  see  the -same  straightforward  course  persued 
in  giving  his  testimony,  as  marked  his  conduct  in  after-life. 

During  Jackson's  term  as  military  Governor,  a  friend  of 
Father  Hersey,  states  that  he  said  to  him  on  one  occasion, 
General  Jackson  had  cursed  him,  and  wrote  to  Washington 
to  have  him  dismissed  :  that  he  was  the  first  man  that  had 
ever  done  so  ;  another  friend  says,  whilst  he  (Hersey)  was 
in  the  Agency,  and  had  saved  up  his  money,  being  desirous 
to  pay  it  to  his  creditors,  he  obtained  a  leave  of  absence 
for  a  short  time,  also,  a  draft  for  his  money ;  when  about 
to  leave  for  Washington,  Mr.  H.  K.  R.  said  to  him,  Mr. 
Hersey  I  see  you  havo  provided  all  for  your  creditors,  noth- 
ing for  the  expense  of  your  journey.  Father  Hersey  drew 
from  his  pocket  a  Spanish  ''quarter-dollar,"  saying,  that 
will  do  for  the  journey ;  after  being  absent  a  few  weeks,  he 
returned,  the  same  party  said,  well  Mr.  Hersey,  how  did  you 
succeed?  Mr.  Hersey  drew  from  his  pocket  the  game  piece 
of  money,  remarking,  he  always  found  kind  friends  wherever 
he  went,  and  they  usually  supplied  his  wants,  which  were  but 
few.  After  the  Agency  had  been  abolished,  and  closed  up, 
Father  Hersey  returned  home  to  greet  his  friends, and  to  en- 
gage in  other  pursuits. 

The  year  1819  is  memorable  as  the  year  in  which  the 
State  of  Alabama  was  admitted  into  the  Federal  Union  ;  as 
the  year  she  adopted  her  constitution,  and  elected  her  execu- 
tive officers;  as  the  year  John  Hersey  was  appointed  Indian 
Trade  Agent,  and  located  at  the  town  of  Cahawba,  the  seat 
of  Government  of  the  State  ;  the  year  he  began  his  Christian 
Ministerial  life ;  the  year  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
organized  her  great  Missionary  Society;  the  year  that  Ala- 
bama was  made  a  district  in  the  Mississippi  Conference  and 
Thos.  Griffin  appointed  P.  E.,  with  John  Murron,  William 
Ledbetter,  John  J.  E.  Byrd,  preachers,  at  the  Conference  of 

1820,  they  reported   968  white,   172  colored  members  ;  for 

1821,  white  1,190,  colored,  322. 


JOHN  HERSEY.  15 

During  this  year  they  held  in  the  district  four  camp  meetings, 
one  for  each  of  their  four  circuits.  Presiding  Elder  Griffin 
says  of  Alabama  District,  "It  appears  the  work  of  reformation 
is  progressing  in  our  country.  It  is  certainly  cause  of  exul- 
tation to  witness  the  growing  prosperity  of  the  Redeemer's 
Kingdom  in  our  newly  settled  States  and  Territories.  While 
the/hardy  emigrants  are  felling  trees  of  the  forest,  and  open- 
ing the  bosom  of  the  earth  for  the  reception  of  seed,  the 
heralds  of  salvation  are  itinerating  through  their  scattered 
settlements,  breaking  up  the  fallow  ground  of  their  hearts, 
and  sowing  the  seed  of  eternal  life.  At  a  camp  meeting  held 
on  the  6th  of  July,  on  Pearl  river,  a  few  miles  from  Monte- 
cello,  the  congregation  was  large  and  attentive,  many  were 
awakened  to  a  sense  of  their  need  in  Christ,  and  five  or  six 
gave  evidence  of  a  change  of  heart.  On  the  20th,  we  held 
another  meeting  on  the  river  Chickasauhay,  about  fifty  miles 
from  the  borders  of  the  Mobile,  where  we  have  a  flourishing 
society ;  there  were  two  traveling  and  four  local  preachers 
present  (Father  Hersey  was  likely  one  of  them);  on  Friday  and 
Saturday,  the  Lord  favored  us  with  a  solemn  sense  of  His 
presence  ;  sinners  were  struck  with  awe,  and  stood  with  sol- 
emn silence,  whilst  believers  rejoiced  in  God,  their  Saviour. 
On  Sabbath  we  administered  the  Lord's  Supper  ;  all  were 
serious ;  and  I  believe  much  good  was  done  ;  about  ten  profes- 
sed justifying  Grace.  On  the  27th  July,  we  held  another 
meeting,  about  thirty  miles  from  St.  Stephen's,  near  the 
Tombigbee  and  Alabama  rivers;  the  principal  part  of  the  peo- 
ple were  irreligious,  jet  they  behaved  with  great  order  and 
decorum  ;  five  professed  to  be  converted.  On  the  2nd  of 
August  we  commenced  a  camp  meeting  on  the  banks  of  the 
Alabama  river,  thirty  miles  below  the  town  of  Cahawba,  the 
seat  of  government  of  this  State.  From  the  paucity  of  the 
inhabitants,  and  the  afflictions  many  were  suffering  from  a 
prevailing  fever,  there  were  not  many  attending  this  meeting; 
some  disorder  was  witnessed  at  this  meeting,  but  He  that 
commanded  the  boisterous  winds  to  be  still,  appeared  in  our 
behalf;  before  the  exercises  closed,  some  were  brought  as  we 
have  reason  to  believe,  to  a  knowledge  of  the  truth.  August 
10th.  another  meeting  began  thirty  miles  above  Cahawba;  a 
numerous  concourse  of  people  attended,  and  much  good  was 
done  ;  on,  Tuesday  morning  I  requested  all  who  had  obtained 
an  evidence  of  their  conversion  to  God,  to  come  forward  to 


16  SKETCH  OF 

the  altar,  when  thirty  seven  presented  themselves.  The  two 
last  meetings  were  held  in  the  forest,  and  the  Indians  were 
fishing  in  the  river ;  while  we  were  preaching  and  praying, 
the  bears  were  ravaging  the  cornfields,  and  the  wolves  and 
tigers  were  howling  and  screaming  in  the  very  woods  in  the 
neighborhood  of  our  meeting.  These  accounts  may  seem  unim- 
portant to  those  accustomed  to  more  numerous  congregations 
and  who  have  the  privilege  of  assembling  in  convenient 
houses ;  but  to  us,  who  are  struggling  with  many  difficulties 
in  this  newly  settled  country,  it  is  highly  gratifying,  and 
fills  us  with  a  pleasing  hope  of  yet  seeing  the  desert  blossom 
as  the  rose." 

The  reader  will  see  a  picture  of  a  newly  settled  State,  and 
the  condition  of  things  when  John  Hersey  was  appointed 
Trade  Agent  to  Alabama,  and  took  charge  of  that  important 
station,  which  he  held  for  three  years,  during  which  time  he 
assisted  in  the  establishment  of  the  State  Institutions,  and 
of  the  M  E.  Church.  No  wonder  after  forty  years  toil  he 
could  and  did  stand  on  the  same  soil,  and  praise  God  that 
his  hopes  had  been  realized  ;  that  the  desert  had  blossomed 
as  the  rose.  We  will  insert  his  letter  in  another  chapter, 
written  in  1859,  on  his  last  visit  to  Alabama.  The  reader 
will  see  John  Hersey  lived  and  labored  at  an  age  that  tried 
men's  souls.  He  was  identified  with  the  great  men  of  the 
country,  as  well  as  of  the  church,  in  laying  the  foundation 
of  both  civil  and  religious  liberty  in  highly  favored  Ame- 
rica, as  well  as  Africa.  His  ministry  began  the  same  year 
that  Bishop  Paine  joined  the  Tennessee  Conference,  and  was 
sent  to  Flint  river  Circuit ;  here  is  where  they  formed 
their  acquaintance,  that  Bishop  Paine,  speaks  of  in  his  letter, 
when  he  says,  "I  became  acquainted  with  Bro.  Hersey  about 
40  years  ago.  In  the  Autumn  of  1822,  or  Spring  of  1823, 
he  returned  to  his  home  in  Georgetown,  D.  C.,  to  greet  his 
friends  and  to  enter  upon  his  life  work."  No  wonder  that 
Bros.  Lipscomb  and  Hudgins  saw  a  change,  and  believed  him 
a  converted  man  ;  for  his  whole  after-life  corresponded  to  his 
profession. 

We  now  greet  him  as  Father  Hersey,  a  minister  of  the 
Gospel  of  the  blessed  God ;  and  as  such  we  introduce  him  to 
the  reader. 


JOHN  HERSEY.  17 


CHAPTER  III. 
ENTERING  UPON  nis  MINISTERIAL  WORK. 

The  life  to  which  Father  Hersey  had  now  devoted  himself, 
and  to  which  he  believed  God  had  called  him  by  his  Spirit 
and  Providence,  was  one  of  the  gravest  consideration  ;  hum- 
ble though  it  might  seem  in  the  eyes  of  the  world,  to  him 
the  aspect  assumed  was  one  of  untold  interest ;  no  other,  with 
him,  could  compare  with  it.  While  he  looked  upon  himself  as 
an  earthen  vessel,  and  a  frail  one  too,  he  felt  that  he  was  a 
messenger  of  Christ,  and  that  with  the  faithful  discharge  of 
that  sacred  trust,  was  identified  the  future,  the  everlasting 
destiny  of  some,  at  least,  of  his  fellow-beings.  He  knew  by 
engaging  in  it — such  was  the  state  of  Methodism,  even  apart 
from  other  considerations — that  he  entered  upon  a  st  ,«e  of 
severe  trial:  it  was  a  life  of  hardship,  a  life  of  exposure,  and 
one  that  connected  with  it  not  a  little  suffering  ;  1: e  went 
forth  trembling,  weeping,  we  may  say.  "Bearing  precious 
seed" — but  a  seed  whose  fruit  was  to  blossom,  and  shed  its 
fragrance,  not  only  on  this,  but  another  world ;  and  we  think 
we  are  safe  in  saying — that  it  was  the  bearing  that  his  call- 
ing had  upon  eternity  alone  that  moved  him  to  engage 
in  the  work  ;  nay,  it  was  this  that  kept  him  in  it,  and  kept  him 
from  fainting  by  the  way.  The  reader  is  not  to  suppose  that 
Mr.  Hersey  had  before  him  some  sequestered,  or  even  opulent 
parish,  which  could  tempt  him  with  that  which  pleased  the 
•eye  and  charmed  the  heart ;  where  want,  neglect,  or  pain  of 
absence  was  not  to  be  felt.  He  was  now  a  Methodist  preach- 
er, a  minister  of  the  Gospel,  without  a  settled  pastorate,  or 
regular  contributing  congregation,  who  at  best,  could  only 
obtain  a  meagre  support,  and  that  by  personal  effort,  or  the 
benevolence  of  kind  friends,  unsolicited  upon  his  part. 

His  first  work  in  his  new  and  important  relation  was  under 
the  direction  of  a  Presiding  Elder;  in  this  capacity,  he  travel- 
ed the  Culpepper  Circuit  in  V i'-ginia,  ojn  foot — a  circuit  of  240 
miles,  without  missing  an  appointment.  There  is  a  striking 
resemblance,  in  one  particular,  of  Father  Hersey  to  the  Apos- 


18  SKETCH  OF 

tie  Paul.  In  the  confession  of  Paul,  he  acknowledges  that  he 
was  a  persecutor  of  the  church,  as  well  as  the  chief  of  sin- 
ners —  of  Father  Hersey,  it  is  said,"he  was  a  proud,  gay,  sin- 
ful young  man,  but  in  both,  as  soon  as  they  were  converted, 
they  began  to  preach  Jesus  and  the  resurrection,  and  straight- 
way, "Conferred  not  with  flesh  and  blood,"  but  boldly,  as  far 
as  in  them,  set  to  work  to  counteract  their  previous  wickedness, 
by  precept  and  example,  and  to  the  same  persons  and  in  the 
same  places,  where  they  had  reviled  the  name  of  the  Lord. 
They  went  and  lifted  up  the  standard  of  the  Cross,  and  be- 
seeched  men  to  be  reconciled  to  God.  As  the  early  sinful  days 
of  Father  Hersey  were  in  Virginia,  he  spent  the  earlier  days  of 
his  Christian  ministry  with  the  same  people,  in  trying  to  bring 
them  to  God. 

Eev.  W.  C.  Lipscomb  states,  when  Father  Hersey  return- 
ed to  Georgetown,  he  was  certainly  a  very  different  man — 
he  had  commenced  preaching ;  Bro.  Hudgins  saySj  when 
he  returned  to  Mathews  Co.,  he  was  changed  altogether. 
I  do  believe  he  was  a  converted  man.  He  traveled  to  Rich- 
mond, Fredericksburg,  and  elsewhere,  preaching;  and  the 
churches  were  filled  ;  (his  fame  went  far  and  near,)  the  people 
said  he  talked  like  Spurgeon. 

Eev.  J.  W.  Reeves  writes  :  "I  heard  Father  Hersey  preach 
in  Alexandria,  Va. ,  1824;  he  often  preached  at  Sun  rising, 
and  great  crowds  would  be  out  to  hear  hiui ;  his  preach- 
ing was  with  demonstration  and  power,  and  many  were  con- 
verted to  God.  I  shall  never  forget,  it  was  under  his  ministry, 
I  was  awakened  and  converted,  and,  am  happy  to  know  such 
a  man  as  John  Hersey  ever  lived.  " 

Rev.  F.  S.  Evans  writes:  "My  acquaintance  with  good 
Bro.  Hersey,  began  in  18-5,  and  was  renewed  at  intervals 
up  to  near  the  time  he  went  home  to  Heaven." 

Bishop  Paine  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  (South.)  in  a  letter, 
before  me  writes,  February  llth,  I860  :  "I  became  acquainted 
with  Brother  Hersey,  about  40  years  ago  :  I  never  knew  a 
more  consistent  and  devoted  minister." 

Bishop  J.  L.  Keener  of  same  church,  writes,  New  Orleans, 
April  7th,  1879  :  '"Your  favor,  asking  for  items  of  information 
in  reference  to  Rev.  J.  Hersey.  I  knew  him  as  a  preacher, 
calling  at  my  father's  home,  when  I  was  a  young  man  and 
just  from  school,  and  I  afterwards  entertained  him  here  in 


JOHN  HERSEY.  19 

New  Orleans,  for  a  week  or  two  before  the  war,  where  he 
preached  in  our  church.  He  was  a  delightful  man  ;  exempli- 
fying the  beauty  of  holiness  for  years,  wherever^  he  went[; 
and  an  able  minister  of  the  New  Testament." 

Rev.  Henry  Slicer  says:  "Father  Hersey  I  knew  long  and 
intimately  ;  he  has  spent  weeks  at  my  house  ;  I  was  his  pastor 
in  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  in  1825.  He  was  then  a  Commis- 
sion Merchant ;  he  however,  failed  in  business,  and  this  fact 
furnishes  the  reason,  why  he  never  entered  the  itinerant 
ministry.  He  feared  there  might  be  some  taint  or  suspicion 
attached  to  him  on  account  of  his  former  indebtedness  ;  he 
never  considered  himself  released  from  obligations  to^  his 
creditors,  until  he  had  paid  them  the  last  dollar.  For  upwards 
of  forty  years,  he  was  an  itinerant  local  preacher.  As 
an  evangelist,  he  traveled  through  nearly  all  the  States.  He 
was  ordained  deacon,  by  Bishop  Soule,  at  Baltimore,  April 
10th,  1825;  elder,  by  Bishop  Roberts,  in  Lynchburg,  Va. , 
March  1st,  1829." 

After  these  years,  he  spent  much  of  his  time  in  Baltimore, 
with  his  friends  Armstrong  &  Plaskett,  who  were  the  publish- 
ers of  his  first  works  :  "Extracts  of  Wesley,"  "Importance  of 
Small  Things,"  "An  Appeal  to  Christians  on  the  Subject  of  Sla- 
very." With  these,  he  went  forth  everywhere,  scattering  the 
seeds  of  eternal  life.  And  eternity  alone  will  reveal  the  good 
John  Ilersey  did  with  word,  work  and  pen,  aided  by  the  bles- 
sed Spirit  of  Almighty  God,  which  we  all  need  so  much  ;  with- 
out which,  the  word  will  return  void,  will  not  accomplish 
that  whcreunto  it  is  sent.  "O  for  the  Spirit  of  the  fathers  to 
be  poured  out  on  all  the  churches  ;  then  will  he*  ministers  in 
deed  and  in  truth,  teach  transgressors  thy  way,  and  sinners 
shall  be  converted  to  God." 


CH AFTER  IV. 

His    CHRISTIAN  AND  MINISTERIAL  CHARACTER. 

FATHER  HERSEY,  as  he  was  reverently  called,  was  a  cherish- 
ed household  name  in  many  portions  of  our  country  for  the 
larger  portion  of  half  a  century.  To  numerous  individuals  and 
families  of  the  generation  passing  away,  his  memory  is  en- 
deared. If  not  a  star  of  the  first  magnitude,  John  Hereey 
ahone  with  no  mean  lustre  ;  he  was  indeed  a  "living  and 


20  SKETCH  OF 

shining  light."  His  nativity  it  will  be  seen,  marks  an  illus- 
trious era.  Three  years  after  the  achievement  of  American 
Independence,  and  two  years  after  the  organization  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church ;  and  it  may  be  noted  that  he 
died  when  the  great  Rebellion  had  assumed  its  fiercest  pro- 
portions, and  the  North  and  South  were  engaged  in  deadly 
and  uncertain  strife ;  an  event  of  which  he  seemed  to  have 
had  prophetic  foresight.  But  he  was  untouched  by  its  ter- 
ro  -s ;  and  before  the  conflict  ended,  he  was  away  in  the 
land  of  everlasting  peace.  He  was  early  in  his  ministry,  we 
believe,  a  member  of  the  Baltimore  Conference  ;  at  lea.st  on 
trial  in  that  body,  but  desiring  a  wider  range  than  Confer- 
ence*limits,  and  the  privilege  to  chose  his  own  field  of  labor, 
he  was  allowed  this  freedom.  Yet  he  could  not  be  called  a 
local  preacher,  for  all  his  time  and  talents  were  devoted  to 
ministerial  work,  and  he  traveled  as  much  and  preached  as 
often  as  most  of  his  contemporaries.  He  itinerated  at  will 
over  most  of  the  Continent.  We  find  him  following  the 
tract  of  the  pioneer  emigrant,  proclaiming  the  glad  tidings, 
and  scattering  the  seed  of  truth  that  made  the  solitary  places 
rejoice,  and  the  wilderness  blossom  as  the  rose.  It  may  be 
said  he  was  erratic — he  never  could  be  called  insubordinate. 
He  yielded  submission  to  our  ecclesiastical  economy  and  vin- 
dicated by  precept  and  example,  conformity  to  the  discipline 
of  the  M.  E.  Church. 

An  esteemed  friend,  a-i  honored  and  able  minister  of  the 
Wilmington  Conference,  writes :  "My  acquaintance  with 
Father  Ilersey  commenced  in  the  days  of  my  youthful  minis  - 
try.  He  was  with  me  at  my  stopping  places,  and  made  him- 
self on  several  occasions,  every  way  a  useful  congenial 
companion.  I  was  at  that  time — nor  have  I  ever  fully  out- 
grown the  habit — given  to  asking  questions  ;  he  answered 
readily  and  usually  to  my  satisfaction,  all  the  questions  I 
asked  him.  Nor  is  it  a  small  matter  to  find  one  superior  to 
jourself  in  years  and  in  experience  and  intelligence,  replying 
to  your  persistent  and  often  perplexing  inquiries.  In  this 
way  for  my  part,  I  have  had  the  luck  in  more  than  one  case, 
to  find  "libraries  in  men."  While  I  was  a  single  man, 
Father  Hersey  in  several  instances  visited  my  fields  of  labor, 
and  was  always  welcome,  and  after  I  had  a  home  of  my  own, 
if  the  itinerant's  place  of  sojourn  can  be  called  his  home — he 
was  always  a  cherished  guest ;  and  on  more^than  one  occasion, 
he  blessed  our  fireside  with  his  presence 


JOHN  HERSEY.  21 

Father  Hersey  was  an  early  riser.  In  the  towns  he  visi- 
ted, making  appointments  for  preaching  at  five  o'clock  in  the- 
morning,  he  usually  had  a  good^attcndance.  In  one  of  these 
morning  discourses,  in  speaking  of  the  Divine  Will,  he  used 
language  like  the  following  :  "The  heart  is  deceitful,"  but 
if  I  know  myself,  were  my  Heavenly  Father  to  send  his- 
angel  to  address  me  thus,  "John  I  am  commissioned  from, 
the  THRONE  to  offer  you  any  situation  in  life  you  may 
chose;  only  state  your  wishes  and  they  shall  be  gratified. 
I  think  I  would  answer,  go  back  Gabriel,  and  tell  your  Lord 
and  Master,  I  have  no  choice  to  make,  and  am  satisfied  with, 
with  the  lot  he  assigns  me." 

On  one  occasion  Father  Hersey  was  a  guest  at  a  friend's 
house  to  supper.  In  those  days  the  cone  shaped  loaf  sugar 
was  popular.  It  -was  white  and  hard,  and  for  table  use  was- 
broken  in  small  pieces  and  used  for  tea.  He  used  the  ordi- 
nary herb  teas,  rejecting  coffee ;  yet  he  declined  the  loaf 
sugar  and  requested  brown,  which  was  intended  for  coffee. 
His  host  asked  him  the  reason  for  his  preference — supposing 
his  choice  was  influenced  by  a  motive  of  economy  and  self- 
denial,  afcd  remarked  that  there  was  little  or  no  difference  in 
the  cost,  whilst  tea  was  spoiled  by  sugar.  His  answer  was, 
"We  are  commanded  to  abstain  from  all  evil,"  and  added,. 
"Blood  is  forbidden — loaf-sugar  is  clarified  with  blood,  and 
I  feel  bound  not  to  use  it."  The  conversation  ended  on  the 
subject,  for  the  friend  was  silent  for  such  delicate  scruples  of 
conscience.  Father  Hersey  was  particular  in  his  diet.  He 
abstained  from  luxurious,  but  ate  heartily  of  ordinary  whole-  > 
some  food.  Me  scrupulously  avoided  food  cooked  on  Sunday 
when  it  came  to  his  knowledge,  or  was  self-evident. 

He  preferred  a  hard  bed,  that  is,  some  couch  without  the- 
luxury  of  feathers — even  in  winter.  Mattresses  were  not 
then  in  general  use. 

Once  while  visiting  a  friend,  it  is  related,  that  before  re- 
tiring, he  made  private  request,  if  convenient  to  have  a  hard 
bed  ;  another  clerical  friend  being  a  guest  at  the  same  time, 
who  was  not  so  self-denying,  overhearing  Father  Hersey's- 
request,  remarked  "Brother,  you  will  have  to  put  up  with  a 
feather  bed  to-night,  you  arc  to  sleep  with  me,  and  I  prefer 
feathers."  He  acquiesed  and  the  brothers  lodged  together. 
Father  Hersey  objected  to  superfluities  of  all  kinds ;  fine 
clothes,  costly  furniture,  table  luxuries. 


22  SKETCH  OF 

He  preached   against   them,    and   he   practiced   what   he 
preached — a   consistency   not   found    in    all   reformers   and 
evangelists.     He  held  that  it  was  contrary  to   the   Spirit  of 
the  Gospel  to  indulge  in  these  things,  while  so  many  of  our 
Heavenly  Father's  children  were  destitute  of  proper  clothing 
and  the  common  necessaries  of  life.     A  friend  remarking  on 
one  occasion,  that  self-denial  on  his  part  would   not  supply 
the   destitution    of  the    sufferers, he  replied,    that  he  felt    it 
his  duty  to  bear  their  burdens,  to  suffer  with  them  in  imita- 
tion of  Him  who  was  touched  with  the  feelings  of  our  infirmi- 
ties, and  who,  though  he  was  rich,  for  our  sake  became  poor. 
The  friend  was  constrained  to  acknowledge  the  magnanimity  • 
of  his  motives.     Being  reminded    that   the   manufacture    of 
various  fabrics  and  the  mechanical  arts  in  general  gave  use- 
ful employment  to  many  persons,  and  contributed  greatly  to 
the  prosperity  and  peace  of  society ;  he  seemed  to  admit  the 
theory,  but  re-avowed  the  importance  of  self-denial.     When 
told,  "You  are  the  only  person  known,  who  practices  as  well 
as  preaches  a  life  of  such   a  rigid   self-denial ;  certainly  all 
other  religious  professors  are  not  deceived"     His  answer  was 
"I  do  not  judge  others,  but  so  understand  the  Scriptures  for 
my  own  faith  and  practice."     In  this  connection,  being  asked 
if  he  had  ever  made  a  convert  to  his  ideas  and  mode  of  liv- 
ing,   he    said    he    believed    he  had  met   with   one  lady  who 
had  adopted  them. 

This  was  undoubtedly  a  low  estimate  of  the  effect  of  hi8 
close  preaching,  and  holy  example.  No  doubt  many  through 
his  doctrines  and  manner  of  life  were  led  to  a  closer  walk 
with  God,  and  presented  perfection  in  Christ  Jesus.  There 
was  this  excellence  in  Father  Hersey ,  he  never  dogmatised 
his  opinions,  and  did  not  make  himself  an  oracle.  He  was, 
fond  of  visiting  the  South,  and  often  spent  the  Winter  there, 
where  he  found  pleasant  homes  among  people  of  wealth  and 
refinement ,  but  in  the  midst  of  such  surroundings  he  adher- 
ed to  his  abstemious  habit,  and  was  respected  and  beloved; 
when  he  returned  from  these  annual  sojourns,  like  the  birds 
of  Spring  with  unaltered  plumage  and  song,  his  mantle,  was 
unsoiled,  and  his  zeal  was  unquenched. 

On  the  slavery  question  he  was  once  heard  to  fay,  "The 
Abolitionists  are  right  in  principle,"  implying  as  his  hearers 
took  it,  that  they  were  wrong  and  erred  in  the  methods  by 


JOHN  HERSEY.  23 

which  they  sought  to  carry  out  the  principle,  It  was  at  this 
point  the  issue  came  between  the  conservatists  and  the  ultra- 
ists.  There  is  no  doubt,  but  that  Father  Hersey  conducted 
himself  fairly  and  squarely,  both  to  master  and  slave,  making 
the  word  of  God,  "the  man  of  his  counsel,"  and  being  all 
things  to  all  men  for  their  good. 

But  like  all  sincere  and  outspoken  men,  Father  Hersey, 
was  often  misunderstood  upon  this  subject.  When  the  strife 
and  controversey  between  the  emancipationists  and  their 
opponents  waxed  warm,  and  the  questions  involved,  pro  and 
con,  were  discussed  with  vigor  and  order  in  the  Legislature  of 
Virginia,  Father  Hersey  arranged,  collated  and  published  a 
small  volume  of  these  speeches,  and  oifered  them  for  sale  in 
the  State  of  Virginia. 

A  storm  of  indignation  arose  in  the  Old  Dominion  against 
the  veteran  divinee,  who  was  denounced  without  stint  as 
an  Abolitionist  by  all  who  had  never  seen  his  book;  a  box  of 
the  books  were  seized  and  publicly  burnt  in  the  streets  of 
Richmond  ;  whilst  Father  Hersey  himself,  who  was  attending 
a  Camp  Meeting  near  .Kredericksburg,  at  the  advice  of  his 
friends,  had  to  fly  to  prevent  the  execution  of  an  order  ema- 
nating from  Richmond,  authorizing  and  directing  his  arrest 
and  detention.  Under  the  influence  of  returning  reason,  an 
examination  of  the  book  which  before  had  not  been  thought 
of,  resulted  in  a  reconsideration  by  the  tribunal  and  counter- 
manding of  its  order.  But  ere  this,  the  books  were  in  flames 
and  their  compiler  a  fugitive,  exclaiming  as  he  left  the 
Camp  ground,  with  tears  streaming  from  his  eyes,  "Never 
before  have  I  been  called  an  enemy  of  my  country." 

Father  Hersey  would  often  show  that  his  mind  was  troubled 
as  if  some  prophetic  apprehension  disturbed  him.  He  would 
not  unfrequently  intimate,  both  in  public  discourse  and  private 
conversation,  that  we  were  on  the  eve  of  tumultuous  times — 
a  storm  was  brewing. 

The  terrible  civil  war  through  which  the  country  passed, 
did  transpire.  As  fearful  as  it  was,  it  scarcely  reached  the 
horrors  of  his  vision  of  dark  events.  This  may  have  been  the 
preliminary  "woe,"  and  others,  it  may  be,  are  yet  to  come 
in  the  drama  of  Providence,  when  Church  and  State,  na- 
tionalities, races  and  religions,  will  blend  in  the  strife.  If  this 


24  SKETCH  OF 

«hall  ever  come  to  pass,  the  spirit  of  our  sainted  friend  may 
watch  the  scene  from  the  celestial  bastions. 

Mr.  Hersey  spent  some  years  of  his  early  ministerial  life 
among  the  Red  men  of  the  frontier.  He  was  first  an  agent, 
afterwards  a  missionary  among  the  the  Choctaws,  previous  to 
their  removal  west  of  the  Mississippi.  In  after  years,  he  re- 
Tisited  the  scenes  of  his  early  ministry,  and  was  warmly  wel- 
comed by  its  dusty  children^— his  first  converts.  About  thirty 
jears  before  his  death,  Father  Hersey  made  a  voyage  to  Liberia, 
to  preach  to  the  colonists  and  natives. 

The  missionary  spirit  prompted  him  to  go  to  benighted  Af- 
rica, so  as  to  impart  some  gift  through  the  ministrations  of  the 
gospel  to  these  people,  and  to  respond  to  the  desire  of  relief 
•expressed  by  the  scripture  words  ''Ethiopia  is  stretching  out 
her  hands  unto  God."  It  is  quite  probable  that  he  did  not 
find  a  fruitful  field  for  his  talent  there.  His  conviction  was 
that  the  standard  of  morals  was  not  high  enough  in  the  lives  of 
those  who  represented  Christianity,  to  impress  the  heathen 
with  elevated  ideas  of  its  excellence  and  divinity. 

Father  Hersey  was  an  author,  and  published  several  works. 
His  Extracts  from  Wesley,  was  probably,  the  first  emanation 
from  his  pan.  Importance  of  Small  Things,  which  followed 
in  1830-33,  is  a  very  useful  production,  and  can  scarcely  be 
read  by  any  one  without  profit;  it  went  through  more  than 
•one  edition.  His  work  on  Christian  Perfection,  says  a  Meth- 
odist Minister  of  great  learning,  and  author  of  great  merit, 
"T-  technically- if  not  theologically  anti-Methodistic  ;  that  is 
anti-Wesleyan.  He  earnestly  contends  for  holiness  of  heart 
anu  life  as  a  present  work  and  experience,  and  essential  to 
the  believers  acceptance  with  God  and  his  salvation.  That 
•every  child  of  God  is  pure  in  heart,  created  anew  in  Christ 
Jesu^,  'u3aring  the  image  of  him  that  begat  him."  Father 
Hc;sey  it  would  seem  from  the  testimony  of  our  religious 
literature,  is  not  aloae  in  thebe  opinions  ;  but  their  entire 
ha^mo^y  with  the  law  and  testimony,  it  would  be  difficult  I 
think,  to  maintain  on  the  one  hand,  or  disapprove  on  the 
•other.  The  truth  as  it  is  In  Jesus  in  this  case  as  in  others  is 
rather  a  matter  of  faith  and  experience,  than  of  analysis  and 
interpretation. 

In  1833,  Ii3  publishel  his  2nd  edition  on  Slivcry ;  which 
was  followed  by  his  views  on  Baptism,  Life  of  Prayer,  Advice 


JOHN  HERSEY.  2S 

to  Parents,  The  Tico  Witnesses,  and  just  before  his  death,  witk 
Satan  Unmasked,  or  Revelations  Revealed.  Father  Hersey 
was  never  married.  As  far  as  information  could  be  elicited 
from  him  on  this  delicate  subject,  he  was  far  from  being  in- 
sensible to  the  charms  which  invest  this  question,  but  he  wa& 
so  hemmed  in  by  circumstances,  that  he  could  not  allow  it  to 
enter  into  his  life  purposes.  He  was  not  situated  to  incur  do- 
mestic responsibilities,  and  followed  Paul's  advice  in  the  case. 
There  had  been  a  period  when  the  question  was  fresh  and  se- 
rious in  his  thoughts  ;  for  did  there  ever  live  a  man  or  woman, 
exempt  from  its  spells?  Some  shadow,  no  doubt,  crossed  his 
path,  and  the  question,  perhaps,  at  an  early  date  became  ob- 
solete ;  its  odor  however,  was  exhaled  in  the  romance  of 
memory. 

In  early  life  he  had  been  a  man  of  the  world,  drifting  with 
the  tide  on  the  stream' of  fashion.  He  was  a  merchant  in  the 
District  of  Columbia  about  the  time  of  the  war  of  1812. 
He  was  then  in  the  pride  of  his  early  manhood.  On  one 
occasion  he  purchased  in  New  York  a  cargo  of  tea  and  salt 
on  credit,  to  the  amount  of  sixty  thousand  dollars,  which  he 
paid  ;  but  afterwards  a  collapse  in  business  circles  coming  at 
the  close  of  the  war,  caused  him  to  fail,  largely  in  debt. 
Shorly  after  this,  he  became  religious,  and  his  life  thenceforth, 
was  destined  to  be  the  antithesis  of  his  former  one.  Involved 
in  debt,  he  applied  all  his  savings  from  the  sale  of  his  books, 
and  the  gift  of  his  friends,  to  its  liquidation.  The  generosity 
of  his  creditors  allowed  him  his  own  time,  and  a  few  years 
before  his  death,  he  visited  New  York,  sought  out  the  widow 
and  child  of  his  last  creditor  (he  being  long  since  dead),  and 
astonished  them  by  tendering  several  hundred  dollars  in 
liquidation  of  a  debt,  of  whose  existence  they  did  not  even 
dream. 

On  this  occasion  he  writes  to  a  friend — "I  am  again  a  free 
man,  for  no  one  can  say  that  John  Hersey  owes  him  a  cent." 

Changed  by  the  logic  of  events  from  a  merchant  full  of 
pride,  to  an  itinerant,  overflowing  with  piety,  moving  in  a 
different  sphere,  and  toiling  with  different  aims,  are  we  not 
safe  in  saying,  that  the  self-denying  itinerant  achieved  a 
grander  work,  than  if  he  had  pursued  his  mercantile  calling, 
and  become  the  wealthiest  capitalist  of  the  country, 

To  mortify  his  former  pride,  and  by  way  of  reparation  for- 


26  SKETCH  OF 

his  previous  extravagance  and  vanity,  Father  Hersey  resort- 
ed to  plainness  of  dress,  and  of  diet ;  he  did  not  indulge  in 
eating;  he  was  no  epicure,  hut  enjoyed  his  meals,  eat  what 
was  set  before  him ;  always  finding  something  good  and 
wholesome  His  friends  were  careful  to  accommodate  his 
scruples.  Nor  was  there  anything  in  him  morbid,  peevish 
and  morose.  On  the  contrary,  his  cheerful  contentment  and 
gratitude,  made  him  free  from  offensive  moods,  and  an  object 
of  interest  and  even  of  admiration  to  all  who  knew  him 

He  was  social  and  genial  in  a  high  degree  ;  genuine  relig- 
ion does  not  destroy  the  human  side  of  our  nature,  it  is  the 
carnal  it  seeks  to  uproot  and  destroy,  but  it  enters  into  and 
runs  through  the  channels  of  the  human  or  the  "earthly 
vessel,"  and  brings  out  our  individuality  into  nobler  relief. 
Wearing  the  image  of  the  heavenly,  transforms  and  utilizes 
our  natural  characteristics.  Paul's  mighty  energy  seen  in 
persecuting  the  church,  was,  after  his  conversion,  sanctified 
and  directed  in  building  up  what  he  had  sought  to  destroy. 
So  Father  Hersey's  devotion  to  the  world,  and  his  "pride  of 
life"  were  superseded  after  he  became  a  Christian,  by  a  life  of 
usefulness  and  of  unflinching  self-denial. 

His  visits  to  families  were  marked  occasions ;  parents  and 
children,  masters  and  servants,  and  guest,  all  came  in  fora 
share  of  his  attention  ;  with  true  courtesy  and  in  the  spirit 
of  love,  he  gave  to  each  in  turn,  some  appropriate  advice. 
This  was  bis  invariable  practice  :  nor  were  these  salutatory  or 
parting  words  soon  forgotten.  In  his  personal  habits,  Fath- 
er Hersey  was  cleanly  to  a  fault.  Although  dressed  in 
"Lindsey-wolsey"  which  was  his  chief  attire,  he  was  always 
neat,  and  when  his  clothes  became  thread-bare,  which  was 
sometimes  the  case,  no  man  in  broad-cloth  had  more  the 
bearing  of  a  gentleman.  Although  rigid  in  his  habits  of 
self-denial,  and  close  in  his  preaching,  he  was  never  censori- 
ous, and  although  really  (as  all  who  met  him  were  forced  to 
admit)  "Better  than  other  men;"  he  had  nothing  of  the 
bearing,  or  the  boast  of  the  Pharisee. 

If  ever  severe  in  reproof,  it  was  when  the  misdemeanor 
partook  of  the  nature  of  sacrilege.  In  such  case  the  offend- 
er might  lookout  for  words  of  keenest  rebuke. 

A  friend  writes  :  "On  one  occasion  I  was  the  unwitting 
instrument  of  disturbing  his  accustomed  gravity.  As  singu- 


JOHN  HERSEY.  7& 

lar  as  he  was  in  his  modes  of  abstinence  and  self-denial,  yet 
for  everything  he  was  prepared  to  give  a  sensible  reason 
'  I  said,  Father  Hersey  I  hold  the  same  truths,  the  Same 
theory  of  morals  and  religion  you  do,  and  I  am  trying  to  re- 
duce them  to  practice,  but  my  way  differs  from  yours  iu  carry- 
ing them  out.  I  could  imitate  you  mechanically,  but  wouldb  e 
at  a  loss  for  SD  doing.  The  fact  is,  I  hav'nt  sense  enough 
to  adopt  your  habits  of  life.  A  blush,  accompanied  with  a 
hearty  laugh,  was  his  only  answer."  He  was  regarded  by 
some  of  his  contemporaries  as  wild  in  his  singularity.  He 
was  singular,  eccentric,  if  you  please,  but  this  was  the  mark 
of  a  strong  character.  His  eccentricities  consisted  in  his 
abstemious,  laborious  life — in  his  holy  walk  and  conversation, 
and  in  his  tireless  efforts  to  do  good  to  his  fellow-men. 
They  subjected  no  one  to  inconvenience,  but  himself.  He 
was  a  living  martyr,  but  in  that  martyrdom  he  honored  his 
Master  and  found  a  joy  that  the  princes  of  this  world 
would  barter  crowns  to  possess.  Father  Hersey  was  consis- 
tent and  reliable.  You  always  knew  where  to  find  him  ; 
he  did  not  vacillate.  Numbers  of  young  men  on  entering  the 
Christian  ministry,  who  assume  a  plain  attire,  with  other  tokens 
of  humlity,  and  after  a  short  period  lay  it  all  aside  as  unbecom- 
ing the  dignity  of  their  positions,  and  as  oppressive  to  the 
tastes  of  cultivated  people.  What  is  this  but  weakness  and 
vanity  ? 

Father  Hersey  through  "Evil  report  and  good"  continued 
and  ended  as  he  began.  In  youth  and  in  age  he  was  the 
same.  He  persued  the  even  "Tenor  of  his  ways,"  neither 
officiously  presenting  himself  as  a  pattern,  nor  yet  stooping 
to  be  an  imitator.  Father  Hersey,  when  not  acting  in  his 
independent  style  as  a  traveling  missionary  and  itinerant, 
was  employed  by  Presiding  Elders  to  supply  vacancies,  chief- 
ly in  the  old  Baltimore  and  Philadelphia  Conferences.  He 
also  performed  ministerial  work  in  most  of  the  Middle, 
Southern  and  Western  States.  He  visited  from  house  to 
house  and  in  private,  and  in  public,  preached  the  gospel, 
giving  fall  proof  of  his  ministry ;  and  until  a  few  years  of  his 
death,  traveling  mostly  on  foot. 

As  a  preacher,  he  had  gifts  sufficient  to  have  taken  high 
rank.  His  powers  for  swaying  an  audience  as  a  speaker, 
were  probably  never  fully  exerted  ;  for  some  reason  and  by 
some  influence,  they  were  held  under  restraint,  as  if  fearful 


28  SKETCH  OF 

it  might  seem  like  parade  to  do  his  best.  He  was  intelligent, 
and  comprehended  the  methods  by  which  to  illustrate  and 
enforce  the  truth.  His  emotional  nature  seemed  to  be  aglow, 
and  his  impulses  were  quick  and  generous.  He  had  sublime 
conceptions  which  he  sometimes  expressed  in  thrilling  terms. 
In  preaching,  he  was  textual;  he  brought  before  his  auiience 
the  strong  points  of  a  passage,  and  never  failed  to  give  the 
gist  of  the  subject.  He  knew  by  verbal  construction  to  set 
forth  and  apply  the  truth,  so  that  every  one  felt  that  it  con- 
tained a  message  for  him.  The  listener  became  convinced 
that  the  speaker  cared  little  for  man's  criticisms,  so  he  could 
please  God,  and  save  their  souls.  He  was  true  to  his  own 
conviction,  and  described  religion  as  a  solemn  personal  mat- 
ter, which  antagonized  our  depraved  nature,  and  placed  us 
in  responsible  relations  with  a  Holy  God.  He  described  the 
way  to  heaven  as  intricate  and  narrow;  and  yet  the  preacher 
was  so  gentle  and  pitiful,  loving  and  happy,  that  while  he 
led  you  to  feel  unworthy  and  sinful,  yet  failed  for  the  most 
part  to  cause  any  alarm,  for  the  reason  that  the  thought 
gained  control  of  the  hearer's  mind,  that  if  the  preacher  is  so 
gentle,  surely  our  Heavenly  Father  cannot  be  severe. 
Again,  he  was  earnest  and  pathetic,  he  might  be  justly  called 
a  weeping  prophet ;  not  for  the  many  tears  he  shed,  but  for 
his  dirge-like  voice,  the  effect  of  which  was  to  excite  in  the 
hearer  a  sympathy  for  the  speaker,  rather  than  concern  for 
himself.  The  same  state  of  mind  seemed  to  control  certain 
persons  in  the  Saviour's  days,  which  led  him  to  say,  "Daugh- 
ter of  Jerusalem,  weep  not  for  me,  but  weep  for  yourself  and 
your  children."  A  lady  once  became  greatly  excited  with 
apparent  alarm  under  his  preaching,  but  he  soon  made  the 
discovery  that  her  nerves  more  than  her  conscience  was  the 
seat  of  her  fears. 

These  facts  with  others,  are  furnished  to  form  some  analysis 
of  a  remarkable  character,  and  to  make  the  portrait  as  life- 
like as  possible. 

Father  Hersey  was  more  of  a  logician  than  a  philosopher. 
A  man  may  reason  well,  when  his  premises  are  incorrect, 
when  in  discourse  they  may  be  technically  misplaced,  or 
misstated,  which  will  involve  mistaken  deductions.  In  such 
a  case,  philosophy  might  adjust  the  argument. 

Mr.  Wesley  furnishes  an  example  to  this  effect,  where 
philosophy  was  master  of  the  logic.  There  were  three  prin- 


JOHN  HEKSEY.  29 

ciples  that  met  in  Father  Hersey,  which  in  their  combination 
moulded  his  character  and  controlled  his  life,  namely  :  faith, 
conscience  and  common  sense.  In  default  of  the  adjusting 
force  of  these  with  the  prevailing  idiosyncracies  of  his  nature, 
he  would  have  been  a  fool  or  fanatic  ;  but  he  was  farthest 
removed  from  either  ;  nor  was  he  a  bigot,  nor  an  egotist,  nor 
a  sectarian.  Religiously  he  was  a  Christian,  denomination- 
ally a  Method-lit,  and  in  vocation  a  preacher.  The  phrase 
that  would  best  state  what  he  was,  is  "One  who  earnestly 
contended  for  the  faith  cnce  declared  to  the  saints,"  or,  in 
the  words  of  Jesus  himself  applied  to  another,  "An  Israelite 
indeed,  in  whom  there  is  no  guile." 

Father  Hersey  evidently  underestimated  the  fruits  of  his 
labors.  He  was  not  a  revivalist,  as  the  term  is  usually 
understood.  He  was  far  from  being  a  sensationalist,  but  be- 
lievers were  quickened,  and  communities  were  moved  by  his 
preaching.  His  ministry,  like  that  of  the  Saviour's  great 
fore-runner,-  attracted  numerous  hearers.  He  might,  with 
the  greatest  emphasis,  be  called  an  evangelist,  but  for  one 
thing,  and  yet  it  cannot  be  said  that  he  was  not  an  evange- 
list, for  some  of  the  marks  of  an  evangelist  he  possessed  in 
a  very  high  degree.  The  exception  in  his  case,  was  the  lack 
of  the  doctrinal  element.  He  did  preach  doctrine,  and 
sound  doctrine  too.  But  he  was  a  teacher,  rather  than  a 
a  theologian.  The  instructor  of  a  Sabbath  School  class,  the- 
mother  in  the  nursery,  are  teachers  in  their  departments,  and 
very  important  ones  too,  in  the  rudimental  knowledge  of  re- 
ligious truth,  but  it  would  not  be  proper  to  call  them  evan- 
gelists. Such  was  Father  Hersey  compared  as  a  teacher 
with  the  theologian;  it  being  understood  that  every  theologian 
is  not  a  teacher.  Father  Hersey's  tendency  was  more  in  the 
order  of  the  true  pietist,  than  that  of  the  evangelist.  Be- 
lieving in  ethical  instruction,  and  in  preaching  Christian- 
morality;  still  we  must  admit,  that  precept  without  doctrine, 
weakens  a  discourse.  Possibly,  there  was  not  enough  of 
theology  in  Father  Hersey's  preaching,  to  make  him  a  thor- 
ougff  evangelist ;  but  it  may  truly  be  said,  that  the  work  of 
an  evangelist  is  more  to  enfore  the  teaching  and  practicing 
of  the  truth,  than  to  present  expositions  of  systematic  divin- 
ity; yet  still,  the  basis  of  all  successful  evangelists,  is  the 
doctrinal  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus. 

Wesley  was  a  theologian,  and  so   was   Luther.     Like   the- 


30  SKETCH  OF 

Apostles  John  and  Paul.  All  of  these  were  great  evange- 
lists. But  after  all,  it  must  be  conceded,  that  Father  Hersey 
was  in  his  order,  an  able  minister  of  the  New  Testament. 
The  trumpet  he  blew,  gave  no  uncertain  sound.  His  feet 
were  shod  with  the  preparation  of  the  Gospel  of  Peace.  A 
halo  attended  his  steps.  lu  him  was  seen  the  beauty  of 
holiness,  and  we  cannot  doubt  that  many  souls  were  saved 
through  his  labor,  who  will  shine  as  stars  in  his  crown  of 
rejoicing.  Circulating  as  he  did,  so  widely,  and  calling  the 
attention  of  the  people  to  the  subject  of  religion,  with  ^uch 
earnest  words,  and  moving  so  rapidly  from  place  to  place, 
the  effect  of  his  ministry  was  to  cause  those  who  heard  him, 
to  go  to  the  regular  places  of  preaching,  and  here  it,  just  as 
the  presence  of  a  comet  in  the  sky  widens  our(  view  of  the 
extent  of  creation,  and  leads  persons  to  observe  the  stars, 
•who  would  otherwise  scarcely  look  heavenward.  The  mis- 
sion of  some  men  may  seem  erratic,  but  there  is  in  it  a  God- 
like philosophy. 

In  his  later  years,  it  is  easy  to  recall  the  appearance  of 
dignified  meekness,  and  the  cheerful  smile  that  played  over 
his  countenance,  which  wore  the  blended  tokens  of  benignity 
and  sorrow.  There  was  always  in  him  the  attractive  force 
of  sympathy.  You  could  scarcely  see  him  without  a  touch 
of  sadness.  Yet  it  was  of  the  kind  that  promises  a  virtue  -f 
for  by  it,  the  heart  was  made  better,  and  it  became  at  once  a 
source  of  strength  and  joy  to  the  beholder ;  and  although  the 
weight  of  years  was  bending  his  form  and  causing  his  steps  to- 
falter,  there  still  remained  in  him  a  noble  beam  of  his  for- 
mer days.  It  is  refreshing  to  turn  to  these  things  in  the 
diary  of  memory,  as  all  who  have  shared  the  acquaintance  of 
this  venerable  and  holy  man  will  testify  that  it  was  made  to 
them  a  blessing,  which  they  would  fain  transmit  as  a  price- 
less heir-loom  to  their  posterity. 

About  this  time,  he  was  greatly  exercised  on  the  question 
of  colonization,  having  spent  three  of  his  earlier  years, 
south.  Learning  much  those  years  on  the  subject  of  American 
slavery,  he  was  in  full  sympathy  with  colonizing  in  Africa, 
the  colored  race.  lie  published  in  1833,  the  same  year  he 
sailed  for  Africa,  his  "Appeal  to  Christians  on  Slavery." 


JOHN  MERSEY.  31 


CHAPTER  V. 

AFRICAN  MISSION  AT  CAPE  PALMAS,  1833. 

Slavery  in  the  United  States  may  have  been  considered  the 
remote,  and  Christian  philanthrophy,  the  proximate  cause  of 
establishing  the  colony  in  Africa,  known  as  LIBERIA,  under 
the  auspices  of  the  American  Colonization  Society.  This- 
society  was  formed  in  1816,  by  some  benevolent  individuals, 
with  a  view  of  transporting  to  Africa,  such  free  people  of  color, 
from  the  United  State*  as  might  consent  to  migrate,  and 
establish  themselves  as  a  colony,  with  all  the  rights  and 
privileges  of  freemen.  The  first  experiment,  however,  prov- 
ed unpropitious.  In  1818,  a  number  of  emigrants  sailed 
from  the  port  of  New  York,  in  the  .«hip  Elizabeth,  accompa- 
nied by  that  eminent  philanthropist  and  Christian  minister, 
the  Rev.  MR.  BACON,  whose  commendable  zeal  in  the  cause 
of  African  Colonization,  led  him  to  embark  in  this  hazardous 
undertaking,  as  the  principal  Agent  of  the  society ;  the 
place  at  the  mouth  of  the  Sherbro  River  proved  to  be  an- 
unfortunate  selection  for  the  site  of  this  important  colony. 

In  1821,  the  society  purchased  of  the  native  chiefs, '[a  dis- 
trict of  country  on  the  western  coast  of  Africa.  Here  a 
settlement  was  commenced  under  favorable  circumstances, 
and  the  town  was  called  MONROVIA,  in  honor  of  the  popular 
chief  magistrate  who  then  occupied  the  Presidential  chair, 
(President  Monroe.)  These  emigrants  were  accompanied 
by  the  pious  and  lamented  ASHMAN,  who  fell  a  victim  to  hi» 
zeal  in  striving  to  build  up  a  colony  in  that  place.  Nor 
were  the  churches  inattentive  to  these  movements.  The 
Missionary  Society  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  had  not  been  an 
indifferent  spectator  to  the  spiritual  wants  of  these  people 
who  had  gone  from  our  shores  ;  many  of  them  were  mem- 
bers of  our  churchbs,  and  some  were  local  preachers  of 
reputable  standing,  and  they  sent  back  a  cry,  "Come  over 
into  Africa  and  help  us  "  Rev.  Melville  B.  Cox,  offered  his- 
services  as  a  missionary  to  Africa,  and  was  accepted  by  the 
Bishops. 


32  SKETCH  OF 

After  making  the  needful  preparation,  on  the  16th  of  Nov. 

1832,  Mr.  Cox  set  sail  in  the   ship  JUPITER,   from    Norfolk, 
Va ;  after  a  long  and  tedious  voyage,  he  arrived  in  Liberia 
on  the  8th  of  March,  1833,  and  was  most  cordially  received 
by  the  acting  Governor,  Rev.  Mr.  Williams,  a  local  preacher 
of  the  M.  E.  Church. 

Mr.  Cox  in  taking  leave  of  a  young  friend  at  the  Wesleyan 
University,  said  to  him,  "If  I  die  in  Africa,  you  must  come 
and  write  my  epitaph."  "I  will"  said  the  youth  "But  what 
shall  I  write;"  write,  replied  Mr.  Cox,  "Let  a  thousand  fall 
before  Africa  be  given  up."  He  fell  asleep,  July  21st, 

1833,  but- 

Victorious  his  fall,  for  he  rose  as  lie  fell, 

With  Jesus,  his  Master,  in  glory  to  dwell : 

He  has  passed  o'er  the  stream,  and  reached  the  bright  coast, 

He  fell  like  a  martyr — he  died  at  his  post. 

Father  Hersey  hearing  the  news  of  the  demise  of  his  friend 
and  brother  in  Christ,  determined  to  take  the  post  vacated  by 
his  death  ;  and  in  six  months  and  six  days  thereafter,  being 
the  27th  day  of  January,  he  stood  by  the  grave  of  the  fallen 
hero.  Who  can  tell  what  were  his  emotions  on  this  eventful 
occasion  ?  The  memory  of  the  sainted  dead  is  ever  a  source 
of  true  inspiration  ;  all  the  thoughts  that  a  godly  life  can  awa- 
ken, are  reproduced  from  the  cold,  inanimate  ashes  of  one  who 
has  served  humanity;  but  in  so  doing,  has  been  animated  by 
paramount  duty  to  God.  There  is  an  incense  from  the  grave 
of  a  righteous  man  ever  fragrant : 

"And  can  we  the  word  of  his  exit  forget, 
O  no  ;  they  are  fresh  in  our  memory  yet ; 
An  example  so  brilliant  shall  never  be  lost ; 
We  will  fall  in  the  work,  we  will  die  at  our  post. 

Melville  B.  Cox  planted  the  Methodist  Church  at  Monrovia, 
Africa,  April,  1833.  His  death  prevented  the  successful  pros- 
ecution of  his  Christian  benevolence  Afterwards,  John  Her- 
sey appeared  upon  the  scene,  and  through  his  efforts,  the  first 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  erected  at  Cape  Palmas,  Ap- 
ril, 1834.  (Thus  far  we  have  anticipated  the  narrative  of 
the  subject  of  this  memoir ;  his  connection  with  the  Liberian 
scheme  is  full  of  interest.) 

The  Maryland  Colonization  Society  was  incorporated  during 
the  year  1832.  On  the  24th  of  March,  of  the  same  year,  there 


JOHN  HERSEY.  33 

was  held  in  the  ch  imbers  of  Judge  Brice,  at  the  Court  House 
in  Baltimore  city,  a  meeting  of  the  persons  named  in  the  Act 
of  Incorporation  of  the  Maryland  State  Colonization  Society, 
which  Act  of  Incorporation  was  passed  by' the  Legislative  As- 
sembly of  1831.  Tho.£e  who  assembled  on  this  occasion  un- 
der a  published  call,  were,  George  Hoffman,  Nicholas  Brice, 
John  Gibson,  Peter  Hoffman,  Charles  Howard,  Thomas  El- 
liott, Luke  Tiernan,  Moses  Sheppard,  Soloman  Ettinge  and 
John  H.  B.  Latrobe.  No  one  who  is  familiar  with  the  past 
history  of  the  "Monumental  City,"  can  scan  the  above  list  of 
names  without  recognizing  the  fact,  that  it  embraced  worthy 
and  eminent  citizens,  who  in  their  day  have  creditably  adorn- 
ed the  professional  and  other  pursuits  to  which  they  devoted 
themselves.  They  were  men  of  liberal  ideas,  and  meant  well 
in  this  particular  work  of  charity.  George  Hoffman  was  the 
presiding  officer  of  this  meeting,  with  John  H.  B.  Latrobe  as 
secretary.  At  a  subsequent  meeting,  Sept.  9th,  1833,  Doctor 
James  Hall  was  selected  as  an  Agent  of  the  society  by  the 
Board  of  Managers,  to  superintend  the  settlement  and  coloni- 
zation of  those  colored  people  who  were  willing  to  establish 
their  homes  and  abide  by  their  fortunes  at  Cape  Palmas,  on 
the  south-west  coast  of  Africa ;  and  John  Hersey  was  selected 

to  act  as  Agent  in  Maryland,  with  authority  to  retain  $ 

out  of  collections  to  be  made  by  him,  as  compensation  for  the 
services  he  was  to  render  in  the  hazardous  undertaking  to 
which  he  was  now  committed.  But  the  aforegoing  action  of 
the  Board  of  Managers  does  not  appear  as  final,  for  on  the 
9th  of  October,  1833,  on  motion  of  Mr.  Williams  it  was  re- 
solved, that  the  subject  of  the  amount  of  compensation  to  be 
awarded  Mr.  Hersey,  who  was  now  selected  as  assistant  Agent, 
be  postponed;  (he  mover  of  the  icsolution  assigning  as  a  rea- 
son therefor,  that  the  assistant  Agent  does  not  desire  to  stip- 
ulate as  to  salary,  but  prefers  to  wait  and  see  what  will  be  the 
results  of  the  enterprise,  and  the  fruits  of  his  labors  expended 
in  its  behalf. 

Here  we  have  exemplified  a  trait  of  character  always  pro- 
minent in  Father  Hersey's  life  ;  his  was  no  sordid  soul,  cank- 
ered by  the  bve  of  worldly  gain.  The  noble  impulse  of  his 
generous  nature  soared  away  heavenward  ;  and  embarking  in 
the  service  of  the  cause  of  colonization,  he  sought  but  one  con- 
summation, the  redemption  of  his  fallen  fellow  man,  and  the 
fastening  of  his  allegiance  to  Christ. 


34  SKETCH     OF 

All  needed  preparations  ha"ing  been  made,  Thursday  mor- 
ning, November  24th,  1833,  at  the  hour  of  9  o'clock,  the 

brig   ANN,   under   charge   of  Captain ,   sailed  from 

the  port  of  Baltimore,  laden  with  a  cargo  of  supplies  and 
merchandise.  There  were  eighteen  emigrants  on  board,  ac- 
companied by  the  Agent  of  the  society,  Dr.  Hall,  and  his  as- 
sistant, Father  Hersey  ;  also  the  Revs.  Messrs.  Williams  and 
Wynkoop,  of  the  American  Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  who 
Accompanied  the  expedition  to  represent  that  cause. 

Those  who  sailed  to  make  Liberia  their  clime  and  home,  were 
Joshua  Stewart,  24  years  of  age  ;  and  Louisa,  his  wife,  23 
years  old,  and  their  infant  son,  Joseph,  one  year  old  ;  Jam- 
es Stewart,  19  years  old;  Pormaly  Delworth,  15;  William 
•Conel!,  25  ;  Francis,  his  wife,  31  ;  Charles,  their  son,  two 
years  old  :  all  of  whom  were  from  the  city  of  Baltimore. 
The  remainder  were  from  Frederick  County,  Md.,  viz.  : 
-Jacob  Gross,  45,  and  Rosanna,  his  wife,  33,  with  their 
children,  Clarsisa,  10  years  old,  Margaret,  8,  Nancy,  5,  Caro- 
line, 3,  and  Roasnna,  eight  weeks  old;  Nicholas  Thompson, 
40  years  oH  ;  Oden  Nelson,  19  years  old,  A  perusal  of  the 
aforegoing  list  of  names  and  ages,  will  be  attended  with 
pregnant  suggestions  ;  what  the  fate  that  awaited  them  prov- 
ed, no  line  of 'ours  can  tell ;  but  they  were  the  vanguard  of  a 
scheme  which  has  not  yet  been  totally  effaced  from  recollection 

The  following  notice  of  the  sailing  of  the  brig  Ann  is 
from  the  files  of  the  Baltimore  American,  and  appeared  in 
that  journal  the  day  subsequent  to  her  departure : 

•'The  brig  Ann,   Captain -,    cleared  yesterday    and 

dropped  down  the  river,  and  will  proceed  with  the  first  fair 
wind  to  the  west  coast  of  Africa.  She  is  chartered,  it  will 
be  recollected,  by  the  Maryland  Colonization  Society,  and 
carries  out  the  emigrants  and  missionaries,  who  design  to 
settle  a  new  colony,  which  is  to  be  established  at  Cape  Pal- 
mas,  under  the  auspices  of  our  own  State  Society.  They 
carry  with  them  the  prayers  of  many  for  a  safe  voyage  and 
prosperous  issue  of  their  important  undertaking." 

Sea  voyages  are  not  always  pleasant  when  surrounded  by 
agreeable  associates  of  a  congenial  nature  :  whether  Father 
Hersey's  was,  can  best  be  described  in  the  following  letter  to 
Mr.  McKenney,  General  Agent  for  the  Society  in  Maryland, 
•of  dated  at  sea,  the  14th  of  January,  1834  : 


JOHN  HERSEY.  35 

"We  have  had  thus  far  a  boisterous,  tedious  and  most 
unpleasant  passage,  nor  can  we  form  any  correct  idea,  when 
it  will  end.  For  your  own  edification  and  the  benefit  of  the 
Maryland  Colonization  Society,  and  not  to  murmur  on  my 
part,  I  will  mention.  Soon  after  we  left  the  Capes,  the  Cap- 
tain became  enraged  in  the  cabin  and  poured  out  a  dreadful 
volley  of  oaths  and  blasphemies,  expressed  in  the  most  vul- 
gar and  uncouth  manner.  As  soon  as  the  storm  abated  a 
degree,  I  observed  that  it  was  exceedingly  unpleasant  to  some 
of  us,  who  were  his  passengers  and  confined  to  his  cabin,  to 
hear  such  oaths  and  bitter  imprecations ;  that  we  would  es- 
teem it  a  peculiar  favor  if  he  wound  refrain.  He  immediate- 
ly flew  into  a  most  violent  rage  and  cursed  us  all  (myself  in 
particular),  in  the  most  vulgar  and  outrageous  manner." 

During  the  voyage,  circumstances  seem  to  have  taken  place, 
that  rendered  it  impossible  for  Father  Hersey  to  continue  in 
the  service  of  the  Society  ,  he  refers  to  the  subject  himself 
in  a  letter  dated  January  27th,  1834,  wherein  it  is  stated  : 

"After  a  passage  of  sixty  one  days,  we  reached  Monrovia. 
I  have  concluded  to  sacrifice  my  own  feelings  and  continue 
on  with  the  expedition  to  Cape  Palmas.  To  do  otherwise 
would  be  a  serious  injury  to  the  cause."  ****** 

I  calculate  on  remaining  with  the  expedition  until  it  is 
settled  and  secured  on  the  continent  at  Cape  Palmas.  *  * 

To  remain  in  my  present  situation,  I  cannot ;  if  I  am  alive 
and  in  this  country  when  your  next  expedition  arrives,  and 
the  Board  of  Managers  have  no  objection,  I  will  thank 
them  to  provide  a  passage  for  me  to  the  United  States. 

February  3rd,  of  the  same  year,  writing  to  the  Hon.  John 
H.  B.  Latrobe,  from  Monrovia,  he  states  the  "The  brig  Ann 
with  all  who  embarked  on  board  in  the  harbor  of  Baltimore, 
arrived  in  health  and  safety  at  Monrovia,  Jan.  27th.,  after 
a  tedious  passage  of  sixty-one  days.  I  regret  very  much 
that  I  am  compelled  at  this  early  period,  respectfully  to  re- 
sign my  situation  as  assistant  Agent  of  the  Maryland  Colo- 
nization Society.  If  it  should  be  deemed  necessary  for  me 
to  assign  a  reason  for  this  step,  perhaps  it  will  be  sufficient  to 
impeach  myself.  It  is  from  an  honest  conviction  that  I  can- 
not be  really  serviceable  to  the  colony  or  society,  that  I 
have  been  influenced  to  adopt  this  course.  The  complexion 
of  a  family  is  not  generally,  if  at  all,  reviewed  from  a  sub- 


36  SKETCH  OF 

ordinate  member  thereof,  but  from  the  parent  or  master 
who  has  supreme  control  of  the  household.  In  my  present 
situation,  there  is  no  definite  duty  assigned  to  me  ;  conse- 
quently, I  can  have  no  actual  authority,  but  must  from 
principle  of  righteousness  and  honor,  obey  the  commands,  and 

wishes  of ,  who  does  not  regard  the  Bible  as 

the  word  of  God.  If  my  life  is  spared,  I  shall  remain 
with  the  expedition  until  the  emigrants  are  fettled,  and  after 
that  object  is  effected,  I  shall  consider  my  connection  with 
the  society  and  colony  dissolved.  I  am  pleased  and  agree- 
ably disappointed  at  the  prospect  which  Africa  presents 
as  a  comfortable,  happy  home  for  her  degraded  and  oppres- 
sed children  now  breathing  in  our  Christian  land.  I  think 
there  cannot  be  a  I'ational  doubt,  but  that  the  country 
generally,  will  be  as  healthful  for  our  colored  people  after 
they  have  become  acclimated,  as  any  part  of  our  Southern 
States  ;  it  is  equally  certain,  that  if  the  principles  of  right- 
eousness and  peace  are  sacredly  observed  on  our  part,  the 
natives  will  meet  us  in  same  friendly  spirit.  Africa  must, 
and  will  be  located  and  become  a  Christian  country,  and  to- 
ner alone  can  we  rationally  look  for  a  place  of  refuge  for  her 
unfortunate  sons,  whose  present  condition  is  a  disgrace  to 
our  own  country.  The  cause  is  good  and  must  prosper, 
however  unjustly  it  may  at  first  be  managed  ;  therefore,  I 
would  say  to  your  philanthropic  society,  go  on,  let  no  diffi- 
culty discourage  you  in  this  noble  enterprise.  You  shall 
have  my  best  wishes  and  feeble  prayers  for  your  prosperity 
and  entire  success  at  home  and  in  Africa.  May  the  blessings 
of  Almighty  God  rest  upon  your  society,  individually  and 
collectively.  May  your  efforts  be  crowned  with  most  happy 
and  honorable  consequences." 

On  the  6th  of  February,  1834,  the  brig  Ann  reached 
Cape  Palmas.  The  natives  had  been  apprised  of  her  coming, 
and  on  the  13th,  a  grand  council  was  held,  to  debate  in  re- 
lation to  the  purchase  of  the  territory ;  the  negotiations 
were  successful ;  after  which,  the  emigrants  were  landed,  and 
work  was  at  once  begun  to  establish  the  colony.  The  Board 
had  sent  the  frame  and  materials  for  the  erection  of  an 
Agency  House.  It  was  at  once  built;  other  buildings  rapid- 
ly arose,  and  within  a  month  after  the  first  landing,  the  set- 
tlement began  to  wear  the  appearance  of  a  compact  and 
comfortable  village.  In  all  the  enterprises,  Mr.  Hersey  was 
a  conspicuous  worker :  he  was  not  only  content  to  give 


JOHN  HERSEY.  37 

attention  to  the  temporary  concerns  of  the  colonists,  but 
through  his  efforts,  there  was  built  a  meeting  house  of  the 
Methodist  denomination,  the  first  temple  dedicated  to  the 
worship  of  Almighty  God  that  was  reared  upon  the  territory 
of  the  society. 

Father  Hersey,  about  the  first  of  April,  1834,  to  the  great 
sorrow  and  regret  of  the  colonists,  embarked  on  the  schoon- 
er Edgar,  and  set  sail  from  Cape  Palmas,  for  the  United 
States.  After  a  passage  of  forty-three  days,  he  landed  in 
New  York  city,  on  the  27th  of  June,  1834.  Here  he  was 
detained  a  few  weeks ;  after  which  he  proceeded  to  Baltimore, 
and  on  the  21st  of  July  he  made  the  following  written  re- 
port to  the  Board  of  Managers  of  the  Maryland  State  Colo- 
nization Society : 

"Having  been  informed  by  the  Captain  of  the  schooner 
Edgar,  that  Dr.  Hall  had  visited  his  vessel  in  person,  and 
gave  him  a  letter  for  the  society,  I  concluded  certainly,  that 
he  had  made  a  communication  to  your  Board.  I  regret  sin- 
cerely the  circumstances,  which  constrained  me  to  resign  my 
situation  in  the  colony.  The  reasons  which  led  me  to  adopt 
that  course  were  mo^t  painful  to  my  feelings,  but  I  forbear 
to  say  anything  on  that  subject.  It  was  not  my  own  person- 
al feeling,  but  a  duty  I  owed  to  Almighty  God  and  his  church 
on  earth,  which  influenced  my  conduct.  After  sending  by  the 
ship  "Jupiter,"  my  resignation,  I  continued  with  the  expedi- 
tion until  the  new  colony  was  permanently  settled  at  Cape 
Palmas.  As  my  resignation  was  unexpected  to  myself,  as 
well  as  to  your  Board,  I  shall  present  no  claim  for  my  expen- 
ses ;  the  whole  amount  of  which,  from  the  time  I  left  Balti- 
more, until  I  arrived  in  New  York,  did  not  exceed  thirty  dol- 
lars. I  gave  several  poor  colonists  a  little  assistance.  I  be- 
lieve, could  you  know  the  circumstances,  you  would  esteem  it 
a  favor  to  pay ;  the  whole  amount,  including  several  items 
since  my  arrival,  will  be  not  less  than  sixty  dollars.  I  only 
mention  for  your  information ;  I  do  not  put  it  as  a  claim.  May 
your  laudable  efforts  to  promote  the  cause  of  humanity  be 
crowned  with  complete  and  honorable  success." 

The  Board  acted  kindly  and  considerately  towards  Father 
Hersey.  At  its  meeting  on  the  3rd  of  May,  on  motion  of 
Mr.  Latrobe,  his  resignation  was  accepted  ;  the  correspond- 
ing Secretary  was  directed  to  address  him  a  letter  of  thanks 
for  his  interest  in  the  cause  of  African  Colonization,  and  ten- 


28  SKETCH  OF 

dering  such  remuneration  for  his  time  and  services  as  might 
be  acceptable  to  him.  This  was  succeeded  by  the  presenta- 
tion of  an  amount  greater  than  the  unpretentious  expendi- 
tures, which  was  so  modestly  communicated  to  the  B )ard. 


CHAPTER  VI. 
RETURN  FROM  LIBERIA. 

When  Father  Hersey  left  New  York,  he  tarried  a  short 
time  in  Philadelphia  ;  in  both  of  these  cities,  he  was  the 
guest  of  numerous  friends.  When  he  reached  Baltimore  in 
July,  his  health  was  much  impaired.  He  retired  to  the 
hospitable  home  of  his  old  class- leader,  and  a  local  minister, 
Rev.  John  L.  Reese  ;  here  he  was  quite  ill.  Sister  Reese  was 
constant  and  untiring  in  her  ministrations  towards  his  recov- 
ery, and  was  rewarded,  by  his  restoration  to  health,  after 
many  weeks  of  painful  illness.  When  his  strength  was  suf- 
ficiently regained,  he  entered  upon  the  active  duties  of  a 
missionary.  He  also  attended  to  the  publication  and  sale  of 
various  books,  of  which  he  was  the  author  ;  this  was  to  him 
a  most  inviting  field  of  ministerial  labor  ;  he  visited  the  sick 
and  needy,  and  administered  comfort  to  the  dying.  He  was 
always  ready  to  assist  the  cily  pastors  in  their  works  of 
revival.  During  the  summer  months  he  visited  very  many 
camp  meetings,  and  as  a  herald  of  the  cross,  was  its  earnest 
exponent. 

He  was  an  itinerant  in  the  true  construction  of  that  word  ; 
when  he  had  performed  his  work  at  one  place,  he  did  not 
longer  remain,  but  hastened  to  some  other  post  of  duty  ;  he 
was  often  heard  to  say,  "I  must  be  about  my  Father's 
business.'' 

He  frequently  related  his  sufferings  and  triumphs,  and 
many  an  account  did  he  give,  of  his  missionary  efforts  in 
Africa.  At  times  he  was  despondent';  the  dark  picture  of 
life  would  be  placed  before  him.  One  such  incident  is 
related  as  having  taken  place  in  the  class-room.  He  was 
very  despondent  in,  his  experience,  and  shaded  it  with  a 
tinge  of  melancholy.  Bro.  Reese,  hi?  class-leader,  tersely 


JOHN  HERSEY.  39 

replied,  "John,  do  you  ever  expect  to  see  the  time,  when 
you  can  say,  well  done."  The  response  was  instantaneous — 
"No,"  and  as  quick  flashed  the  retort,  "well  then,  stop  com- 
plaining." But  he  would  soon  rally,  and  his  word  was  a 
mighty  power 

Rev.  Henry  Butler  who  was  at  a  camp  meeting,  held  on 
the  Calvert  Circuit,  during  the  year  1835,  heard  a  sermon  of 
great  power  and  force,  which  was  succeeded  by  an  exhorta- 
tion from  Father  Hersey,  on  the  hymn — "And  must  I  be  to 
judgment  brought;" — the  effect  produced,  he  says,  was 
electrical,  and  so  powerful  was  the  impression,  that  years 
afterwards  the  solemn  admonitions  rang  in  his  ears  with 
all  the  force  he  experienced  when  they  first  fell  from  the  lips 
of  the  speaker. 

Father  Hersey,  in  1836,  identified  himself  with  the  old 
Light  Street  Church,  and  became  a  member  of  its  Quarterly 
Conference,  and  was  a  member  of  Brother  J.  L.  Reese's 
class;  the  same  year  he  connected  himself  with  the  local  preach- 
ers' and  exhorters'  association,  but  owing  to  his  many 
engagements  and  extensive  missionary  travels,  he  was  not 
assigned  in  the  plan  of  appointments  to  any  special  work  ; 
but  it  was  known,  that  no  one  was  more  thoroughly  engaged 
in  the  Master's  vineyard. 

During  the  year  1838,  Jacob  Gruber  was  engaged  in 
superintending  the  erection  of  the  Orchard  Street  Colored 
Methodist  Church,  Father  Hersey  became  interested  in  this 
work,  and  bestowed  much  of  his  time  and  assistance  in  help- 
ing on  the  enterprise,  nor  did  he  desist  from  manual  labor  ; 
he  was  seen]handling*bricks,  passing  them  to  the  men  who  were 
putting  them  in  position.  From  the  old  Dallas  Street  Metho- 
dist Church,  he  procured  a  piece  of  railing,  and  had  it  used 
in  connection  with  the  steps  leading  to  the  basement ;  his 
motive  for  this  act  is  apparent.  He  had  great  reverence  for 
the  fathers,  and  the  places  where  they  had  held  their  minis- 
trations. Dallas  Street  Church,  at  present  the  oldest  survi- 
ving memorial  of  Methodism  in  Baltimore,  was  one  of 
the  cradles  in  which  that  denomination  was  rocked  in  its 
infancy  ;  within  its  walls,  the  sound  of  Asbury's  voice  had 
resounded,  and  from  its  altars,  souls  had  been  redeemed  who 
are  numbered  with  the  inhabitants  of  the  bettor  land.  In 
all  the  varied  responsibilities  imposed  upon  himself,  John 


40  SKETCH  OF 

Hersey  did  not  forget  to  trace  the  tendency  of  the  church, 
and  discuss  her  proper  policy  ;  writing  in  1839,  upon  the  signs 
of  the  times,  he  thus  expresses  himself : 

"I  am  convinced  that  much  more  might  be  done  within 
the  pale  of  the  church,  than  we  at e  now  doing  ;  it  is  morti- 
fying in  the  extreme  to  see  the  church  become  an  object  of 
commiseration  to  the  wicked  ;  we  must  act  independently  of 
the  pecuniary  aid  of  the  unregenerate,  or  we  must  fall ;  the 
enemies  of  the  cross  may,  and  will  smile  in  prosperity,  but 
they  may  also,  and  will  assuredly,  stab  in  adversity.  Were 
we  careful  to  bring  into  active  operation,  the  sinews  of  the 
church,  and  lop  off  all  our  excesses,  the  kingdom  of  the 
world  would  very  soon  fall  before  us,  and  speedily  become 
the  kingdoms  of  our  God  and  his  Christ.  A  minister  of  the 
gospel  within  the  bounds  of  the  Virginia  Conference,  in  the 
past  year,  has  traveled  about  three  thousand  miles  on  foot, 
and  preached  generally  six  times  a  week.  His  entire  expen- 
ses (exclusive  of  postage)  did  not  amount  to  ten  dollars  ; 
nor  was  it  a  desperate  effort  on  his  part ;  for  the  last  four  or 
five  years,  his  movements  have  been  nearly  the  same  ;  his 
numerous  and  kind  friends  cheerfully  gave  him  his  food  and 
raiment,  with  which  every  follower  of  Christ  should  be  satis- 
fied." 

We  are  indebted  to  the  Rev.  J.  H.  Brown,  D.  D.,  of  the 
Baltimore  Conference,  for  the  following : 

"Rev.  John  Hersey  I  knew  as  far  back  as  1833.  When 
I  was  first  stationed  in  Baltimore,  he  was  then  in  the  vigor  of 
his  age,  and  in  the  heighth  of  his  usefulness.  I  had  heard  of 
him  before  as  a  man, of  great  piety  and  self-denial  ;  I  recol- 
lect his  appointments  for  preaching  at  5  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing ;  I  have  heard  him  preach  in  different  places,  and  on 
various  occasions,  with  great  unction  and  power  ;  he  visited 
from  house  to  house,  praying  with  the  people,  and  warning 
them,  not  with  words  only,  but  by  example  ;  I  went  to  the  ship 
to  see  him  take  his  departure  from  our  shores  for  dark  Africa; 
he  went  to  Cape  Palmas  in  connection  with,  or  under  the 
direction  of  the  Maryland  Colonization  Society.  In  Africa, 
he  remained  a  short  time  ;  he  became  discouraged  from  one 
cause  or  another,  and  returned  ;  he  seemed  persuaded  that 
his  true  mission  was  to  the  churches  at  home,  to  warn  them 
of  their  worldliness.  I  was  with  him  at  a  camp  meeting,  in 


JOHN  MERSEY.  41 

1835,  near  Fredericksburg,  in  old  Virginia ;  the  meeting 
was  memorable  on  many  accounts.  One  incident  I  will 
mention  :  The  Abolition  question  had  produced  great  commo- 
tion in  Virginia;  travelers  were  searched  in  Fredericksburg 
and  other  places,  to  see  if  they  had  Abolition  documents  about 
them  for  circulation  ;  word  was  sent  from  Richmond  to 
Fredericksburg,  to  have  Hersey  arrested  ;  Dr.  Wolford  (a 
most  estimable  citizen),  came  to  me  at  the  camp  meeting, 
and  informed  me  of  it,  and  requested  me  to  tell  Mr.  Hersey 
to  quietly  leave  the  ground,  and  that  if  anything  should 
occur,  he  would  address  the  people,  and  show  that  Mr.  Her- 
sey was  no  Abolitionist.  Bro.  Hersey  took  his  departure 
next  morning,  and  wept,  saying,  "This  is  the  first  time  I 
ever  was  charged  with  being  an  enemy  to  my  country." 
The  next  day  another  order  came  from  Richmond,  not  to 
arrest  him,  that  they  were  mistaken  concerning  his  book  on 
.\luriTij,  which  was  mainly  a  compilation  of  speeches  deliver- 
ed in  the  Legislature  of  Virginia ;  they  burnt  in  the  mean- 
time, a  box  of  those  books  in  the  public  square,  in  their 
haste  and  their  rage  ;  they  admitted  they  were  mistaken  con- 
cerning the  books,  and  countermanded  their  order  for  his 
arrest,  but  he  was  never  indemnified  for  the  books. 

Bro.  Hersey  baptised  my  first-born  child  in  Shippensburg, 
Pa.,  which  we  named  Charles  Watson  :  the  day  will  never 
be  forgotten  :  It  was  in  1862,  I  think,  when  Bro.  Hersey 
came  to  this  city  for  the  last  time  ;  he  saw  the  clouds  gath- 
ering over  our  national  sky,  and  admonished  us  of  the 
approaching  storm.  He  saw  and  felt  his  end  was  rapidly 
coming,  lie  appointed  a  parting  meeting  in  the  Sabbath 
School  room  on  the  south  side  of  old  Light  St.  Church  ;  it 
was  a  meeting  of  preachers :  I  was  present.  It  was  one  of 
those  occasions  never  to  be  forgotten  ;  Bro.  Hersey  was  weak, 
extremely  weak.  He  sat  during  his  address  ;  he  told  us  he 
was  going  to  Pennsylvania  to  die  ;  it  was  a  marvelous  par- 
ting. It  would  have  made  one  of  the  most  impressive  pic- 
tures ;  he  died  in  the  following  November.  I  wrote,  by 
request  of  the  preachers'  meeting,  the  recorded  minutes  of 
his  death. 

In  connection  with  the  subject  of  Father  Hersey's  troubles 
in  Virginia,  growing  out  of  the  slavery  agitation,  the  following 
letter  from  him  to  Messrs.  Armstrong  &  Berry,  of  Baltimore, 
his  book  publishers,  of  date,  September  12th,  1835,  has 


42  SKETCH  OF 

some  bearing  upon  the  subject :  at  that  time  he  seems  to  have 
shared  with  many  other  patriotic  men,  apprehension  of  the 
storm,  that  since  then  bursted  with  such  unrelenting  fury 
over  the  land;  be  says,  "My  way  has  recently  been  very 
much  hedged  up  in  selling  books  :  it  is  almost  impossible  to 
form  a  correct  idea  of  the  fearful  state  of  society.  I  should 
before  this,  have  left  the  State,  and  turned  my  steps  towards 
Ohio,  or  Pennsylvania,  but  have  thought  it  most  prudent  to 
remain  here  until  the  storm  subsides  a  little,  should  that  ever 
be.  As  I  have  written  a  book  on  the  black  absorbing  subject, 
and  distributed  them  publicly,  I  have  become  an  object  of 
peculiar  hatred ;  I  believe  however,  that  the  God,  whose  I 
am,  and  whom  I  serve,  will  deliver  and  protect  rne  from  all 
danger.  I  only  regret  that  my  way  is  hedged  up,  and  when 
I  have  fully  delivered  my  own  soul  with  the  people,  if  my  life 
is  spared,  I  shall  leave  Virginia.  The  Lord's  will  be  done  : 
the  signs  of  the  times  are  truly  dark,  and  ominous  of  evil ; 
they  are  not  surprising,  nor  unexpected  to  me,  however  ;  we 
are  not  what  we  should  be,  and  God  will  visit  us  in  wrath  ; 
nor  is  there  any  way  to  avert  the  storm,  but  by  imitating  the 
conduct  of  Ninevites.  May  heaven  save  our  own  happy  favor- 
ed land  ;  the  Lord  in  mercy  keeps  my  mind  in  peace,  and 
stayed  on  the  Lord  Jesus. 


CHAPTER  VII, 

CURIOUS  BOY. 

About  the  year  1835,  a  camp  meeting  was  held  in  a  grove 
situated  about  three  miles  north  of  Barnesville,  in  Montgom- 
ery County,  Maryland.  The  grove  was  on  a  beautiful  plain, 
at  the  foot  of  the  Sugar  Loaf  Mountain  in  Frederick  County. 
•On  Sunday,  the  day  was  calm,  clear  and  beautiful  ;  the 
majestic  blue  cone,  queen  of  mountains  in  Maryland,  was 
arrayed  in  all  its  natural  glories,  as  if  ready  to  join  in  wor- 
ship ;  below,  its  proud  summit  and  the  blue  hills  along  the 
river  at  its  base,  were  none  the  less  lovely  and  glorious. 
Over  every  hill  and  along  every  valley,  worshippers  poured 
In  toward  the  consecrated  grove.  Two  circles  of  tents  en- 


JOHN  HEESEY.  43 

compassed  the  inner  circle,  wherein  seats  were  provided  for 
the  vast  thousands  who  came  to  worship  ;  on  this  Sabbath 
morning,  crowds  flocked  into  this  great  circle,  and  occupied 
the  seats,  so  that  before  the  hour  of  ten  o'clock,  scarcely 
another  could  pass  in.  Some  great  interest  appeared  to 
draw  the  crowd  :.  some  great  spirit  moved  it,  yet  nothing  un- 
usual was  advertised,  no  great  preacher  was  expected  to  hold 
forth  ;  good  order  and  solemnity  reigned  on  the  ground,  for 
a  strange  spirit  marshaled  the  people. 

A  curious  boy  pressed  his  slim  form  between  two  tents,  and 
gained  the  inner  circle,  which  was  an  inland  sea  of  anxious 
faces,  fanned  by  gentle  breezes,  from  the  summit  of  the  tall, 
blue  cone  of  the  great  mountain.  He  passed  along  through 
the  crowd,  and  halted  at  a  tree,  in  full  view  of  the  preacher's 
stand.  In  the  stand  sat  about  six  plain  men,  whom  he  took 
to  be  preachers.  The  crowd  thickened,  until  the  observant 
boy  was  about  to  be  forced  from  his  hold  on  the  tree,  or  to 
climb  it  to  avoid  suffocation  ;  he  maintained  his  ground, 
however,  and  the  "guards"  went  out  to  urge  the  people  to 
take  closer  quarters,  which  they  did,  and  thousands  more 
came  in  with  a  rush  It  was  now  eleven  o'clock,  and  the 
presence  of  the  great  crowd  appeared  to  be  due  to  the  fact, 
that  a  camp  meeting  was  a  new  thing  in  this  locality.  All 
eyes,  now  and  then,  turned  to  the  rear,  as  if  tired  of  sus- 
pense, yet  they  saw  no  stranger  object,  than  a  spare,  thin 
man,  whose  way  was  being  opened  by  a  "guard."  "Who  is 
that?"  whispers  a  thousand  voices;  the  guard  has  left  him, 
and  he  proceeds  alone.  "Where  will  he  go?"  is  the  next 
inquiry,  and  "Is  he  drunk'?*'  is  a  third  ;  but  he  does  not  heed 
the  voice  of  the  curious,  nor  the  flutter  of  a  lady's  fan- 
Look  at  that  old  rye  straw  hat,  that  blue  cotton  shad  belly 
coat,  that  blue  single-breasted  vest,  and  pantaloons  of  the 
same  blue  material,  which  reach  almost  down  to  the  top  of 
his  shoes.  "Lock  !"  exclaims  that  boy,  "he  is  going  down 
to  the  preachers'  stand ;  we'll  have  some  fun  to  see  the 
preachers  put  him  out."  There  !  he  has  opened  the  altar 
gate  and  going  in.  He  is  crazy  !  now  for  the  fun.  Look  ! 
he  is  into  the  stand  !  he  is  going  up  the  steps,  but  the 
preachers  do  not  look  like  they  will  put  him  out.  Just  see  ! 
they  shake  his  hand  cordially,  and  point  him  to  the  middle 
seat.  He  places  his  weather  beaten,  rye  straw  hat  carefully 
under  the  bench  ,  that  old  hat  has  no  band  on  it,  and  no  crape 


44  SKETCH  OF 

on  the  crown.  Look!  his  coat  is  supplied  with  "hooks  and 
eyes"  instead  of  buttons  !  Now  he  reaches  down  for  his  hat, 
he  has  forgotten  something  ;  from  it  he  takes  a  madder  col- 
ored cotton  handkerchief,  with  which  he  gracefully  wipes 
his  perspiring  brow.  A  preacher  rises  from  his  seat,  advan- 
to  tho  front  of  the  stand,  an<i  taking  the  Bible  and  hymn 
book,  hands  them  to  the  stranger.  Wonder  dances  on  tip-toe, 
and  the  great  sea  of  faces  is  turbulent.  A  minister  advances 
and  announces  that  Rev.  John  Hersey  would  preach.  "They 
are  making  fun  of  that  old  fellow,"  said  the  boy,  "so  as  to 
induce  him  to  leave  without  a  forcible  ejection."  Not  so 
however  ;  he  read  a  hymn,  and  it  was  sung  ;  he  prayed,  and 
read  another  ;  advancing  to  the  front,  he  turned  his  eyes  on 
the  Bible  and  read — 

••Mene,  Mene,  Tekel  Upharsin" 

He  paused  and  covered  the  vast  audience  with  a  glance, 
and  wonder  arose  higher  and  higher,  and  the  silence  which 
ensued  was  oppressive.  He  relieved  it  by  saying  "You  will 
find  the  words  of  my  text  in  the  25th  verse  of  the  5th  chap, 
of  the  prophesy  of  Daniel.1'  "They  were  written  on  the 
.  wall  by  the  Spirit  of  God,"  said  he,  "in  the  language  of 
heaven.  No  scholar  present  at  the  feast  of  Belshazzar  ever 
saw  such  words  in  the  babbling  tongues  of  the  earth.  They 
were  to  be  found  only  in  the  vocabularies  of  angels  of  sera- 
phim of  God." 

He  enchanted  the  audience  by  the  words  of  his  lips  for 
two  hours  and  a  quarter;  and  the  writer  well  remembers  what 
a  thrilling  shout  went  up  when  Belshazzar  and  Daniel  were 
weighed  in  the  balances  "I  am  ravished  with  delight,"  said 
the  speaker,  "down  with  all  glory,  down  !  Daniel  out- 
weighs the  proudest  king  of  the  East.  To  God  be  all  the 
glory;  amen  and  amen." 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

MISCELLANEOUS  SUBJECTS. 

In  1839,  Armstrong  &  Berry  published  in  one  volume,  sev- 
eral of  his  works,   namely:   "  Importance  of  Small   Things", 


JOHN  HERSEY.  45 

"Signs  of  the  Times'',  Inquiry  into  the  Character  and  Condi- 
tion of  our  Children",  "Advice  to  Christian  Parents" ',  "Some 
Remarks  on  Baptism,"  and  "Life  of  De  Renty."  These 
works,  nearly  all  of  which  had  previously  been  published  sep- 
arately, and  some  of  which  had  run  through  several  editions, 
were  eagerly  sought  after  by  the  people,  anxious  to  learn  the 
views  of  this  wonderful  and  inimitable  man.  They  also  invo- 
ked dogmatic  criticism,  but  their  author  was  their  successful 
defender,  and  Father  Hersey  died  with  the  consciousness, 
though  publicly  unexpressed,  that  he  had  as  successfully  in- 
grafted his  sentiments  upon  the  religious  literature  of  the  coun- 
try by  his  pen,  as  he  had  paved  the  way  for  a  new  era  in  the 
theory  and  practice  of  moral  and  perfect  Christianity  by  his 
chaste  and  logical  reasoning — by  his  upright  and  truly  relig- 
ious walk  and  conversation.  Most  of  the  works  of  Father 
Hersey  having  gone  out  of  print  or  being  exceedingly  scarce, 
we  subjoin  some  extracts  giving  his  views  at  length  upon  lead- 
ing subjects  of  social  interest,  as  well  as  rules  for  the  govern- 
ment of  children  by  Christian  parents. 

On,  Coftly  dress. 

Upon  the  subject  of  costly  dress,  we  opine  that  Bro. 
Hersey's  cruda  ideas  will  not  commend  themselves  lo  the 
fashionably  dressed  audiences  of  our  modern  churches. 

He  thus  forcibly  sets  forth  his  -views  : 

"Fine  and  costly  apparel  is  not  only  forbidden  in  the  holy 
word  of  God,  but  reason  and  common  sense  condemn  the 
practice,  for  a  number  of  reasons,  some  of  which  we  will 
notice.  It  leads  to  hypocrisy.  It  feeds  the  flames  of  pride 
and  vanity.  It  robs  the  poor,  and  robs  our  <,wn  sotdf.  It  sets 
a  pernicious  example  to  others.  It  weakens,  if  it  does  not 
destroy,  two  of  the  most  important  principles  of  the  Chris- 
tian religion — faith  and  charity.  If  this  view  of  the  subject 
be  correct,  then  dress,  is  not  a  trifling  consideration,  but 
a  point  of  the  deepest  interest  to  every  rational,  affection- 
ate, human  being.  Rich  and  costly  apparel  leads  us  into- 
hypocrisy.  It  is  a  universal  custom  among  mankind,  to- 
judge  of  strangers  by  their  appearance.  If  we  see  an  indi- 
vidual dressed  in  old  or  coarse  clothes,  we  at  once  conclude 
that  he  is  poor  ;  or  if  he  is  ornamented  with  fine  and  costly 
apparel,  we  as  naturally  conclude  that  he  is  rich.  Now, 
there  arc  very  few  of  us  who  are  willing  to  be  poor,  or  even  to 


46  SKETCH  OF 

be  thought  poor  by  our  neighbors,  or  even  by  strangers  ;  hence 
the  ardent  desire  to  ape  the  appearance  of  the  rich.  It  is 
therefore,  an  irresistible  conclusion,  that  the  poor  parson  who 
assumes  the  garb  of  a  rich  man,  makes  himself  a  hypocrite. 

Do  not  make  or  accept  of  fine  caps,  red  shoes,  or  variegated 
frocks,  or  vests  for  your  children.  You  would  thereby  cultivate 
the  poisonous  principles  of  deception,  whilst  you  cut  up  the 
beautiful  flowers  and  fruits  of  innocence  and  truth  ;  and  nothing 
can  be  expected  but  a  crop  of  shame  and  di«grace.  The  de- 
ception, however,  docs  not  terminate  with  others,  but  extends- 
to  ourselves.  Almost  every  man,  and  certainly  every  child,  will 
think  himself  better  than  another,  because  he  is  better  dressed. 

It  is  not  surprising  that  fallen  man  should  wish  to  pass  off 
a  counterfeit  upon  others;  but  that  he  should  practice  the  same 
fatal  deception  on  himself,  is  truly  astonishing,  and  shows  us 
clearly  how  careful  we  should  teach  our  children  in  early  life 
to  avoid  and  despise  fine  dress.  Christian  parents  know  full 
well  that  God  has  made  of  one  flesh,  the  whole  human  family. 
The  poor  man  is,  in  reality,  as  good  as  the  rich  man — they 
are  made  of  the  same  materials,  and  by  the  same  hands;  they 
breathe  the  same  air;  and  must  mingle  together  in  the  same 
grave;  therefore,  that  which  induces  one  to  think  himself  na- 
turally better  than  another,  must  naturally  lead  him  into  er- 
ror and  self-delusion. 

Make  as  many  experiments  as  you  please,  and  the  result 
will  prove  this  proposition.  Dress  the  slave  child  in  fine  cloth- 
es, and  he  will  look  down  with  contempt  upon  those  who  are 
dressed  in  an  inferior  garb;  this  will  be  the  invariable  result 
with  all  classes  and  conditions  in  society — the  rich,  the  poor, 
the  bond  or  the  free, 

Pride  is  an  abomination  in  the  sight  of  God.  Pride  will  as 
certainly  shut  us  out  of  heaven,  as  the  crime  of  murder.  Will 
you  encourage  and  strengthen  that  principle  in  your  children, 
which  must  be  destroyed,  or  it  must  forever  destroy  them  ? 
Dress  your  child  of  two  years  old  in  a  very  fine  garb,  and 
then  take  off  those  glittering  follies,  and  supply  their  place 
with  coarse  clothes,  and  the  child  will  discover  marks  of  mor- 
tification and  displeasure ;  this  fact  proves  that  if  they  do  not 
engender,  at  least  they  feed  the  flame  of  pride.  A  youth  will 
not  willingly  go  into  company  unless  his  clothes  are  as  fine  as 
those  worn  by  bis  companions  ;  but  if  they  are  finer  than  his 


JOHN  IIERSEY.  47 

associates,  he  makes  no  objection,  but  at  once  assumes  an  air 
of  confidence,  which  proves  that  he  considers  himself  better 
than  his  coarse  dressed  friends.  Nay,  make  an  honest  experi- 
ment with  yourself,  put  on  coarse  homespun  apparel,  a  wool 
hat,  and  other  articles  of  a  similar  cast,  and  then  go  into 
the  society  of  your  rich  and  fine  dressed  acquaintances,  and 
you  will  feel  mortified  and  degraded.  You  may  say,  that 
this  sensation  does  not  necessarily  proceed  from  pride,  but 
from  a  proper  and  due  respect  for  the  feelings  and  character 
of  your  friends.  But  whatever  may  be  the  source  from 
which  it  proceeds,  you  evidently  feel  pain  and  mortification 
yourself,  which  proves  that  there  is  an  unheled  ulcer  near 
your  heart ;  this  monster  may  be  called  pride,  or  you  may  give 
it  any  other  name,  yet  it  is  an  impure  and  unholy  aflection, 
which  fine  dress  is  calculated  to  feed  and  keep  alive. 

The  Lord  as  a  kind  and  merciful  father,  provides  for  the 
wants  and  comforts  of  all  his  children  ;  some  of  them  are 
more  judicious  than  others,  in  the  management  of  his  goods  ; 
therefore,  he  trusts  one  with  more,  and  another  with  less  than 
enough  to  meet  their  real  wants,  that  the  fortunate  may  re- 
gard and  sympathise  with  the  unfortunate,  and  administer  to 
their  necessities.  God  has  also  graciously  promised  to  give 
a  rich  reward  to  the  steward  who  distributes  his  goods  to  the 
poor  and  distressed  part  of  his  children  ;  therefore,  every 
cent  we  expend  in  dresj  for  any  other  purpose  than  to  pro- 
tect us  from  the  inclemency  of  the  weather,  is  that  much 
taken  from  the  suffering  and  afflicted  part  of  our  heavenly 
Father's  family.  Would  you  like  to  see  one  of  your  child- 
ren take  your  money  without  your  permission,  and  expend  it 
in  dissipation,  when  his  sister  was  iu  need  of  food  and  rai- 
ment ?  Would  he  not  be  robbing  his  sister  ?  Must  you  not 
also  admit  on  principles  of  sound  logic,  that  costly  dress 
robs  children  ?  And  can  a  robber  be  received  into  heaven  ? 
Would  you  willingly  and  knowingly  receive  such  a  character 
into  your  family  ? 

But  the  evil  does  not  stop  with  robbing  the  poor,  it  beggars 
our  own  souls!  The  time  required  to  make  and  adjust  fine 
clothes,  might  have  been  spent  on  our  knees  in  humble 
prayer,  or  in  reading,  or  conversing  about  heavenly  and 
divine  things,  receiving  and  imparting  knowledge :  the 
money  required  to  purchase  those  articles,  might  have  been 
expended  in  the  purchase  of  books,  calculated  to  enrich  the 


48  SKETCH    OF 

mind  with  heavenly  knowledge,  which  would  throw  a  rich 
and  beautiful  garment  around  the  soul,  that  would  continue 
to  shine  forever  in  the  eternal  world. 

^Fine  dress,  however,  robs  the  soul  in  different  ways  ;  it 
produces  a  continual  dissipation  of  thought — a  restless  dissat- 
isfied mind  ;  it  naturally  sets  us  to  watching  the  ever  varying 
fashions  of  the  day  ,  it  disqualifies  the  mind  for  solid,  seri- 
ous, profitable  reflection,  and  urges  our  thoughts  and  eyes 
in  ceaseless  rounds  to  see  who  is  looking  at  us,  and  what 
they  think  of  our  appearance.  Oh,  thou  aerial  god  of  this 
world — dress  ;  thou  fatal,  potent  snare  of  the  devil,  how 
many  immortal  souls  hast  thou  robbed,  and  plunged  naked 
into  the  lake  of  unquenchable  fire  ? 

Costly  dress  presents  a  pernicious  example  to  others.  You 
are  rich,  and  can  afford  to  dress  your  children  well.  Waiv- 
ing the  argument  already  advanced,  that  the  silver  and  gold, 
all  belong  to  God,  and  we  are  bound  in  justice  to  dispose  of 
it  only  in  accordance  with  His  will  and  direction  ;  you  must 
acknowledge  that  we  are  social  beings,  and  should  not  only 
consult  our  individual  convenience,  or  the  comfort  of  our 
family  exclusively,  but  we  should,  as  far  as  practicable, 
administer  to  the  happiness  of  the  whole  human  family — at 
least,  as  far  as  our  influence  extends.  But  if  you  clothe 
your  children  in  costly  apparel,  because  you  are  able  to  do  so 
you  exhibit  a  ruinous  example  to  others. 

Many  of  your  neighbors  are  poor,  jet  they  well-know, 
that  by  nature,  they  are  as  good  as  you  and  your  child- 
ren, and  they  will  naturally  make  an  effort  to  render  their 
•children  as  respectable  in  appearance  as  yours  ;  some  of  them 
will  run  in  debt,  and  jeopardise  their  property,  and  destroy 
their  peace  of  mind,  to  keep  pace  with  you,  to  follow  your 
pernicious  example. 

Others  will  be  unable  to  procure  credit ;  they  will  feel  dis- 
couraged, and  sit  down  in  a  state  of  hopeless  despair,  and 
look  upon  you  with  a  degree  of  secret  envy  and  contempt ; 
•others  again,  will  be  led  into  acts  of  dishonesty,  to  gain  those 
perishing  marks  of  distinguished  folly  which  your  family 
bears.  Thus  your  fatal  EXAMPLE  destroys  the  peace  of  mind, 
•and  vitiates  the  morals,  and  mars  the  happiness  of  the  whole 
neighborhood.  Fine  dress  has  a  most  unhappy  effect  on  poor 
people ;  it  not  only  robs  their  minds  and  dissipates  their 
thoughts,  but  it  inflates  them  with  pride  and  vanity,  which 


JOHN  HERSEY.  49 

renders  them  truly  ridiculous  in  their  conduct  and  appear- 
ance. Do,  therefore,  we  beseech  you,  set  them  a  better 
example. 

Costly  apparel  has  a  tendency  to  weaken,  if  it  does  not  de- 
stroy, two  of  the  most  important  Christian  principles  connected 
with  our  religious  character — FAITH  and  CHARITY. 

The  Lord  Jesus  commands  us  to  deny  ourselves  daily,  and 
take  up  our  cross  and  follow  Him,  or  we  cannot  be  his  disci- 
ple ;  neither  can  we  have  any  confidence,  or  evangelical  liv- 
ing  faith,  if  we  obey  not  bis  words.  But  there  is  no  self- 
denial  whatever,  in  wearing  fine  clothes ;  neither  can  we 
believe  that  in  this  particular  we  follow  Chrisfs  example. 
He  was  born,  and  laid  in  a  manger, and  said  of  himself,  "The 
foxes  have  holes,  and  the  birds  of  the  air  have  nests,  but  the 
Son  of  man  hath  not  where  to  lay  his  head."  He  was  liter- 
ally, when  upon  earth,  a  poor  man,  and  acquainted  with 
sorrow,  consequently,  he  could  not  have  dressed  either  in 
fine  or  fashionable  clothes ;  as  poor  people,  when  they  are 
consistent  in  their  character,  never  wear  costly  apparel. 
Christ  could  not  act  inconsistently ;  consequently,  he  must 
have  worn  such  clothes  as  all  honest  consistent  poor  people 
wear.  Nor  can  we  possibly  say,  with  confidence,  that  we 
even  desire  honestly  to  follow  Christ's  example  when  Mre  wear 
costly  or  fine  clothes ;  therefore,  it  must  weaken  our  faith, 
and  "without  faith"  it  is  impossible  to  please  God."  Unbe- 
lief destroys  our  peace  and  happiness,  and  greatly  dishonors 
God.  Nearly  all  of  us  who  profess  to  be  Christ's  followers, 
feel  the  deleterious  effects  of  this  soul-destroying  sin  ;  and 
yet,  parents  will  cherish  and  strengthen  it  in  their  children's 
hearts  every  day.  Oh  !  parents,  be  not  so  cruel  and  unwise. 
But  the  evil  extends  still  further  ;  costly  apparel  is  calculated 
to  destroy  the  fairest  features  in  the  Christian's  character — 
charity,  lore.  However  necessary  and  important  it  may  be 
that  our  faith  should  be  strong  and  unwavering,  it  is  still 
more  so  that  our  love  should  be  pure  and  ardent,  and  con- 
stantly burning  on  the  altar  of  our  hearts ;  but  if  we  love 
the  world,  the  love  of  God  is  not  in  us.  Let  any  individual 
indulge  in  the  use  of  fine  clothes  for  a  given  time — say  sev- 
eral years,  and  let  him  be  called  on  to  give  them  up,  and 
substitute  plain,  coarse  apparel  in  their  place,  and  he  will 
clearly  perceive  that  his  affections  are  riveted  to  these  foolish 
and  unhallowed  things  ;  nor  will  he  part  with  them  withou 


50  SKETCH  OF 

feeling  severe  pangs,  and  very  great  reluctance  Does  no* 
this  prove  that  he  ln-es  them?  Those  who  love  God,  must 
love  their  brother  also  The  beloved  disciple  says  :  "If  ;my 
man  say,  I  love  God,  and  hateth  his  brother,  he  is  a  liar. 
For  he  that  loveth  not  his  brother,  whom  he  hath  seen,  how 
can  he  love  God,  whom  he  hath  not  seen." 

Costly  clothes  operate  as  a  barrier  to  our  love,  especially 
for  poor  people;  if  we  love  them,  they  cannot  love  us. 
Reciprocity  cannot  exist  without  seeming  inferiority.  Honor- 
able love  admits  of  no  distinction ;  perfect  love  is  incompati- 
ble with  anything  but  perfect  equality  of  character.  Fine 
clothes  draw  an  unholy  line  of  distinction  between  those  wlio 
wear,  and  those  who  cannot  procure  them. 

The  principles,  dispositions  and  affections  which  we  culti- 
vate and  establish  in  life,  cannot  be  laid  aside  in  death.  In 
heaven  there  will  be  no  distinction — there  all  are  cnc,  and 
God  is  all  in  all.  Poor  Lazarus  is  there,  and  all  the  pious, 
holy  poor  people,  who  ever  lived  on  earth.  Your  dress 
drew  a  line  of  demarcation  in  this  world.  Here  you  would 
not,  there  you  possibly  cannot  associate  with  them.  Jesus 
says,  "Whatsoever  you  do  to  one  of  the  least  of  these,  my 
brethren,  you  do  it  unto  Me."  In  dressing  to  gratify  pride, 
and  public  sentiment,  do  you  not  set  at  defiance,  the  com- 
mand, and  reject  the  love  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

It  is  therefore  a  rational  and  inevitable  conclusion,  that 
costly  dress  has  a  direct  tendency  to  destroy  our  charity  ;  to 
divide  and  impair  and  consequently,  extinguish  our  love  for 
man  and  God. 

On  Early  Rising. 

Father  Hersey  was  one  of  those  most  industrious  of  work- 
ers. He  arose  and  performed  his  morning  devotions,  usual- 
ly lasting  one  hour,  before  the  early  dawn.  His  journeying 
to  and  fro  over  his  circuits,  were  discarding  the  usual 
methods  of  conveyance,  performed  on  foot,  and  when  not 
eating  or  sleeping,  he  was  invaribly  engaged  in  reading, 
writing,  or  other  profitable  and  useful  employment ;  but  he 
taught  not  only  by  example,  but  laid  down  some  excellent 
precepts  upon  the  subject,  which  we  subjoin  for  the  edifica- 
tion of  our  readers : 

"Diligently  teach   children  to  avoid  the  sluggard's  bed; 


JOHN  HERSEY.  51 

teach  them  to  consider  idteniss  as  the  principal  source  and 
parent  of  every  evil.  Disc/race  and  misery  and  poverty  and 
ruin,  are  the  legitimate  fruits  of  indolence.  Carefully  guard 
them  not  to  approach  this  dead  lake,  whence  thousands  have 
been  swallowed  up  in  destruction.  Idleness  is  not  only  the 
direct  road  to  poverty  and  shame,  but  it  leads  to  dissipa- 
tion of  every  kind — to  gambling,  drunkenness,  theft  and 
murder;  therefore,  receive  your  Divine  Master's  counsel, 
and  do  not  lay-up  treasures  for  your  children,  nor  suffer 
them  to  be  attended  by  servants  ;  teach  them,  from  their 
infancy,  to  wait  on  themselves — to  give  no  trouble  to  any 
one." ' 

A  modern  writer  makes  some  trite  remarks  on  this  sub- 
ject— he  says  "And  as  to  love,  it  cannot  live  for  more  than 
a  month  or  two  towards  a  LAZY  WOMAN,  in  the  breast  of  a 
man  of  spirit.  No  beauty,  no  modesty,  no  accomplishments, 
are  a  compensation  for  the  effects  of  laziness  in  women  ; 
and  of  all  the  proofs  of  laziness,  none  is  more  unequivocal, 
as  that  of  lying  late  in  bed." 

"Make  any  sacrifice  on  earth,  rather  than  raise  up  an  idle 
child  to  be  a  pest  to  society,  a  disgrace  to  mankind,  a  re- 
proach to  his  Creator,  and  a  curse  to  himself  and  all  connect- 
ed with  him." 

"Industry  is  the  certain  road  to  wealth  and  wisdom,  to 
virtue  and  happiness;  teach  them  to  believe  this  doctrine., 
and  they  will  be  the  better  prepared  to  practice  it." 

"Among  all  the  unfortunate  and  unhappy  beings  on  earth, 
pfirbaps  there  are  none  more  so,  than  those  whom  we  gener- 
ally term  poor  gentlemen — to  dig  they  cannot,  and  to  beg  they 
are  ashamed.  For  them  there  is  generally  but  one  alterna- 
tive— either  suicide,  or  robbery  ;  the  latter  profession  gener- 
ally, if  not  ali'-ays  commences  at  the  gambling  tables." 

"Therefore,  whatever  else  you  may  omit  in  the  manage- 
ment of  your  children,  endeavor  by  all  possible  means  to 
instil  into  them,  habits  of  industry." 

On  Economy. 

Whilst  Bro.  Ilersey  inculcated  the  fundamental  principles 
of  economy  by  precept,  and  illustrated  it  by  his  practice  even 
so  vigorously  as  to  incur  the  suspicion  of  parsimo?  iousness, 
he  did  not  fail  to  hold  views  on  generosity  which  he  not  only 


52  SKETCH  OF 

expressed,  but  practised  in  a  manner  which  does  honor  alike 
to  his  head  and  heart.  He  says,  "Great  care  must  be  taken 
that  while  you  are  diligently  engaged  in  cultivating  the 
principles  of  economy  in  your  children's  hearts,  that  the  bit- 
ter, poisonous  weeds  of  parsimony  and  covetousness  do  not 
spring  up  and  grow  in  the  same  soil.  The  character  and 
ultimate  prospects  of  a  jmiser  are  more  despicable  and  des- 
perate than  even  the  character  and  prospects  of  the  spend- 
thrift " 

"Guard  against  selfishness  ;  develop  and  increase  a  noble, 
generous  disposition.  Our  Divine  Master  taught  his  disci- 
ples that  it  was  "more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive."  Never 
receive  a  present,  however  small,  even  an  apple,  without 
dividing  it.  Think  nothing  little  or  unimportant  which  will 
have  a  tendency  to  create  or  confirm  one  of  the  most  noble 
and  excellent  principles  connected  with  our  fallen  nature  ; 
when  the  principles  of  benevolence  and  generosity  are  want- 
ing, there  can  be  no  genuine  honor  or  greatness  of  soul.  A 
mean,  contracted,  parsimonious  disposition,  withers  and 
blights  with  the  frost  of  death,  that  soul  which  God  made  in 
His  own  image,  that  it  might  bloom  forever  in  .  immortal 
beauty.  While  you  are  engaged  in  inculcating  the  principles 
of  rigid  economy,  do  not  forget  to  teach  your  children,  that 
it  is  not  for  their  benefit  exclusively,  but  for  the  benefit  and 
comfort  of  all  the  family ;  while  you  are  inculcating  the 
noble  principles  of  generosity,  you  must  not  at  the  expense 
of  the  more  important  one  of  justice." 

'•Economy  consists. in  doing  that  only,  which  is  right  and 
proper  to  be  done,  and  doing  it  in  the  best  and  most  judicious 
manner,  and  at  the  very  time  it  should  be  done.  Do  not 
run  in  debt  for  anything ;  there  is  more  waste  and  extrava- 
gence  connected  with  the  system  of  credit,  than  people  are 
generally  aware  of.  Credit  frequently  induces  us  to  buy, 
when  we  would  not]otherwise:do  so,  and  always  at  an  enhanced 
price  ;  but  pay  day  must  come,  and  with  it  frequently  comes 
much  vexation  and  trouble;  therefore,  teach  your  children 
early  in  life  to  observe  that  wholesome  scripture  precept, 
"owe  no  man  anything."  If  you  wish  to  enjoy  peace  of 
mind,  and  peace  with  your  neighbors,  carefully  observe  this 
excellent  precept ;  in  the  course  of  a  very  short  life,  a  large 
amount  may  be  saved  in  this  way  alone,  besides  the  peace 
and  comfort  it  must  afford  every  honest  heart.  Let  your 


JOHN  HERSEY.  53 

motto  be,  "Let  nothing  be  wasted."  Do  not  suffer  your 
children  to  waste  even  a  crumb  of  bread,  nor  to  throw  any- 
thing, even  a  piece  of  paper  or  a  string,  into  the  fire ;  but 
parents,  whilst  you  teach  your  children  by  precept,  do  not, 
by  your  example,  teach  them  a  different  lesson.  Do  not 
waste  your  father's  money  for  useless  ornaments,  either  in 
your  houses,  or  on  your  persons  :  real  economy  admits  of  no 
negligence,  or  carelessness,  as  these  lead  to  waste.  Every 
article  should  be  in  its  proper  place ;  everything  about  your 
house  and  person  should  be  sweet  and  clean.  Our  conduct 
and  appearance  will  generally  form  a  correct  index  of  the 
heart.'' 

"A  rational  principle  of  economy  .will  admit  of  no  waste  of 
time,  or  money,  or  property.  We  should  be  as  economical 
of  our  words  as  of  our  goods  ;  the  gift  of  speech  is  a  bless- 
ing, which  should  not  be  abused  :  we  should  be  swift  to  hear, 
but  slow  to  speak." 

On  Justice. 

"Be  just  before  you  are  generous,"  is  a  motto  aptly  illus- 
trated by  Father  Hersey's  action.  In  early  life  he  failed  in 
business,  leaving  considerable  outstanding  liabilities.  From 
that  time,  he  practiced  the  most  rigid  economy  of  dress  -and 
diet,  he  indulged  in  generosity  judiciously,  until  by  abstemi- 
ousness and  frugality,  he  saved  enough  to  discharge  the  long 
standing  obligation,  which  he  did,  much  to  the  astonishment 
of  the  heirs  of  his  creditor,  who  had  been  so  long  dead,  that 
his  claims  upon  Bro.  Hersey  were  unknown  to  his  represen- 
tatives. In  discussing  the  claims  of  justice,  Bro.  Hersey  says  : 
"The  principle  of  justice  cannot  be  impaired  innocently ;  there- 
fore, great  pains  must  be  taken  to  implant  it  pernianently,  and 
to  cultivate  it  assiduously  in  your  children's  hearts.  Explain 
and  enforce  the  principle  very  clearly  and  carefully;  show 
them  that  a  desire  to  get  more  for  any  article  they  may  have 
to  sell,  than  its  real  value,  or  to  purchase  anything  for  less 
than  its  worth,  discovers  an  unjust  and  dishonorable  principle 
in  the  sight  of  God,  their  heavenly  Father.  Suffer  them 
never  to  equivocate,  nor  use  many  words  in  their  transactions 
one  with  another;  let  them  know  that  to  ask  any  honorable 
man  to  take  less  than  the  price  he  asks  for  an  article  they 
may  wish  to  purchase  of  him,  should  be  considered  an  insult, 
and  a  dark  reflection  upon  his  character.  Do  not  suffer  them 


54  SKETCH  OF 

to  take  even  a  pin,  or  button  from  any  one  without  permission, 
under  any  circumstances. 

Some  men  do  not  pay  their  just  debts,  and  are  yet  geneimis 
in  contributing  to  charitable  purposes  ;  this  is  neither  just, 
nor  reasonable.  Others  are  so  unjust  and  cruel,  that  they 
refuse  to  give  anything  to  their  Fathei'.s  poor  children,  be- 
cause they  are  in  debt,  and  never  intend  to  be  otherwise. 
Teach  them  to  avoid  subterfuges  and  evasions,  as  they  would 
the  bite  of  a  serpent.  The  noble  sentiment  expressed  by 
the  Athenians  to  Aristides,  should  always  be  their  motto,  i.  e., 
"Let  justice  prevail  if  the  pillars  of  heaven  should  fall." 
This  Divine  principle  should  be  impressed  with  great  care, 
upon  their  minds  every  day.  Teach  them  that  to  take  only 
the  value  of  one  pin,  or  one  cent  by  force,  or  by  fraud,  or  to 
detain  it  improperly  in  their  possession  when  it  is  demanded 
by  those  to  whom  it  justly  belongs,  will  as  certainly  mark 
their  character,  with  the  black  mark  of  dishonesty,  as  if 
they  had  stolen  one  million  of  money.  The  eternal 
principles  of  justice  are  stern  and  inflexible,  and  will  admit 
of  no  compromise  or  evasion. 

If  after  having  established  good,  virtuous  and  pious  principles 
in  your  children's  minds,  unless  you  sacredly  and  judiciously 
guard  and  regulate  their  intercourse  with  others,  all  your 
labor  will  be  in  vain — your  children  must  ultimately  be 
ruined ;  therefore,  we  beg  you  to  be  careful  in  selecting 
your  children's  company. 

On  Marriage. 

33ro.  Ilersey's  views  on  marriage,  are  well  worth  reprodu- 
cing in  this  day  of  hasty  and  advantageous  connubial  co-part- 
nerships. 

He  says  :  "Having  discharged  your  duty  faithfully  ;  hav- 
ing trained  up  your  children  in  the  way  they  should  go,  you 
will  naturally  feel  a  deep  solicitude  respecting  the  connections 
they  will  form  in  their  marriage." 

If  you  have  been  as  judicious  as  you  should  have  been  in 
selecting  their  society,  there  will  be  but  little  difficulty  in 
acting  your  part  in  reference  to  this  momentous  step.  If 
they  have  never  associated,  either  at  home,  or  abroad,  with 
improper  company,  you  need  not  fear  that  they  will  select  an 
unsuitable  companion  for  life. 


JOHN  HERSEY.  55 

Those  who  live  right  will  be  sure  to  die  right.  In  all 
other  things  you  can  judge  better  for  your  children,  than  in 
their  matrimonial  connections.  It  is  and  ever  must  be,  love, 
pure  unsullied  love,  which  alone  can  smooth  the  rough  paths 
of  life,  and  render  the  conjugal  state  desirable  and  happy. 

You  had  much  better  bury  than  marry  your  children, 
when  this  exalted  principle  is  wanting ;  of  this  you  can  be 
no  judge  ;  you  can,  and  should  counsel,  but  you  should  not 
command.  You  would  not  be  willing  to  impose  on  your 
daughter,  a  burden  more  cruel  than  death  ;  why  then  wish 
to  compel  her  to  marry  your  choice,  and  not  her  own  ?  If, 
however,  after  all  you  can  do,  your  children  will  form  matri- 
monial connections  which  do  not  meet  your  approbation,  you 
must  treat  them  with  parental  regard  and  affection :  much 
evil,  and  perhaps  no  good  has  ever  been  affected  by  treating 
offending  children  in  this  particular  with  great  severity.  It 
should  be  carefully  and  permanently  engraven  on  their 
minds,  that  industry  and  piety,  good  sense  and  virtue,  are 
pre-requisitcs"  which  should  never,  no,  never,  be  dispensed 
with  in  chosing  a  companion  for  life.  There  should  also  be 
a  perfect  congeniality  of  sentiment  and  disposition  ;  genuine 
love  cannot  long  exist  where  this  is  not  the  case  ;  hasty 
matches,  therefore,  are  ever  fraught  with  danger. 

There  should  also  be,  as  far  as  practicable,  a  perfect 
equality  of  condition,  and  of  circumstances  in  life.  Teach 
them  that  to  marry  an  individual  who  has  much  more  money, 
or  education,  or  intelligence,  or  beauty  than  themselves,  is  to 
place  a  thorn  in  their  pillow,  which  will  pierce  occasionally, 
if  not  uniformaly  and  painfully.  Their  religious  sentiments 
should  be  the  same.  The  Apostle's  injunction  should  never 
be  violated — "Be  not  unequally  yoked  together  with  unbe- 
lievers." This  practice  is  disgraceful  to  God  and  to  the 
church,  and  to  our  shame  be  it  spoken  is  entirely  too  com- 
mon. There  certainly  is"  a  far  greater  difference  between  a 
child  of  God  and  a  child  of  the  devil,  than  there  is  between 
a  white  and  black  person.  How  would  such  a  union  corre- 
spond with  the  laws  of  harmony  and  order,  which  God  him- 
self has  established  ?  "It  is  a  sin  in  itself,''  says  J.  Wesley, 
4 'and  indeed  a  sin  of  no  common  dye.  According  to  the 
oracles  of  God,  it  is  no  less  than  spiritual  adultery.  All 
who  are  guilty  of  it,  are  addressed  by  the  Holy  Ghost  in 
these  terms.  'Ye  adulterers  and  adulteresses;'  It  is  plainly 


56  SKETCH    OF 

violating  our  marriage  contract  with  God,  and  as  it  is  a  sin 
in  itself,  it  is  attended  with  the  most  dreadful  consequences. 
It  frequently  entangles  men  again  in  the  commission  of  those 
•sins,  from  which  'they  were  clean.'  It  generally  makes 
them  partakers  even  of  those  sins  which  they  do  not  commit 
themselves." 

It  gradually  abates  their  abhorrence  and  dread  of  sin  in 
general,  and  thereby  prepares  them  for  falling  an  easy  prey 
to  any  strong  temptation.  It  lays  them  open  to  all  those 
sins  of  omission  whereof  their  worldly  acquaintances  are 
guilty.  It  insensibly  lessons  their  exactness  in  private 
prayer,  in  family  duty,  in  fasting,  in  attending  public  service 
and  partaking  of  the  Lord's  Supper.  The  indifference  of 
those  who  are  near  them,  with  respect  to  all  these,  will 
gradually  influence  them,  even  if  they  say  not  one  word  to 
recommend  their  own  practice  ;  yet  their  example  speaks, 
and  is  of  more  force  than  any  other  language.  By 
this  example  they  are  unavoidably  betrayed,  and  almost  con- 
tinually, unto  unprofitable,  yea,  and  into  uncharitable  con- 
versation, till  they  no  longer  'set  a  watch  before  their  mouths 
and  keep  the  door  of  their  lips'  till  they  can  join  in  back- 
biting, talebearing  and  evil  speaking,  without  one  check  of 
conscience  ;  having  so  frequently  grieved  the  Holy  Spirit  of 
God,  that  he  no  longer  reproves  them  for  it."  How  great  is 
the  darkness  of  that  execrable  wretch,  who  will  sell  his  own 
>child  to  the  devil ;  who  will  barter  her  own  eternal  happi- 
ness for  any  quantity  of  gold  or  silver.  What  a  monster 
would  any  man  be  accounted,  who  devoured  the  flesh  of  his 
own  offspring  ?  And  is  he  not  as  great  a  monster,  who  by 
his  own  act  and  deed,  gives  her  to  be  devoured  by  that 
roaring  lion  ?  As  he  certainly  does,  who  marries  her  to  an 
•ungodly  man.  But  he  is  rich,  has  ten  thousand  pounds. 
What  if  it  were  a  hundred?  The  more,  the  worse;  the  less 
probabilities  she  have  of  escaping  the  damnation  of  hell. 
With  what  face  willt  thou  look  upon  her,  when  she  tells  them 
in  the  realms  below,  thou  hast  plunged  me  into  this  place  of 
torment.  Hadst  thou  given  me  a  good  man,  however  poor,  I 
might  now  have  been  in  Abraham's  bosom." 


JOHN  HEKSEY.  5T 


CHAPTER   IX. 
WILL  THE  MACHINE  BE  GOING? 

Many  anecdotes  are  related  illustrative  of  the  subject  of  our 
sketch.  From  among  which,  we  reproduce  the  following : — 
From  the  Baltimore  American,  of  Saturday,  Nov.  30th,  186K 

Will  the  Machine  be  Agoing?  The  Rev.  John  fiersey  i* 
well  known  as  one  of  the  most  eccentric  and  self-denying  min- 
isters of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  has  so  many, 
good  traits  of  character,  that  he  has  endeared  to  himself  to  host 
of  friends,  in  and  out  of  the  society.  But  his  prepossessions,, 
sentiments  and  proclivities  are  strongly  in  unison  wilh  that 
element  of  primitive  Methodism,  which  forbade  the  preachers 
from  giving  Love-feast  tickets  to  those  who  wore  huge  bon- 
nets, who  held  high  heads,  who  put  on  gold  and  silver,  laid* 
up  treasures  upon  earth,  and  were  guilty  of  softness  and  need- 
less self-indulgence  The  following  anecdote  of  Father  Her- 
sey,  as  he  is  respectfully  called,  illustrates  his  character.  I* 
is  well  known  that  the  regular  appointed  minister  of  the  Char- 
les Street  Church  has  long  been  absent  in  the  land  of  "Dixie,"' 
and  Mr.  Hersey  was  called  upon  to  administer  to  the  people- 
on  Thanksgiving  day.  Before  giving  his  consent,  however, 
he  called  upon  one  of  the  stew'ards,  when  the  following  collo- 
quoy  took  place  :  "Brother  Job,"  said  Father  Hersey,  "I  am 
willing  to  preach  in  the  church,  but  will  the  machine  be  ago- 
ing ?"  He  was  told  that  if  the  machine  (the  organ)  was  ob- 
jectionable, it  could  be  stopped  ;  whereupon,  he  consented  to> 
preach,  and  did  so,  in  a  very  effective  manner.  This  will  ex- 
plain to  the  large  congregation  present,  the  disappointment 
experienced  upon  the  absence  of  the  choir,  who  very  good! 
naturedly  abstained  from  the  exercise  of  their  vocal  powers,, 
which  are  acknowledged  "to  be  unsurpassed  in  the  city.  The 
leader,  the  organist,  the  bellows  blower,  as  the  good  father 
termed  them,  and  (he  sterner  sex,  released  from  their  obliga- 
tions, had,  therefore,  a  good  opportunity  of  enjoying  the  day 
in  a  manner  different  from  what  was  anticipated,  whilst  (he- 
the  ladies,  (may  heaven  bless  them,)  who  are  foremost  in  the? 
work  of  benevolence  and  charity,  were  busy  and  active  in  re- 
lieving the  necessities  of  the  poor  and  needy,  at  the  "Home 
of  the  Friendless,"  and  other  kindred  institutions. 


58  SKETCH  OF 

To  morrow,  the  choir  wish  it  to  be  understood,  that  "The 
machine  will  be  agoing"  as  usual, 

Anecdote  of  the  Buttons. 

It  is  related  that  whilst  attending  a  camp  meeting  at  Ball's 
camp  ground,  Va.,  in  the  Fall  of  1826,  Father  Hersey  preach- 
ed a  powerful  sermon,  in  which  he  inveighed  against  the  then 
becoming  to  be  fashionable  practice  among  the  ladies,  of  wear- 
ing earrings ;  insisting  with  great  force,  that  the  wearing  of 
useless  apparel  or  ornaments,  was  questionable,  if  not  sinful. 
After  service,  an  amiable  and  accomplished  sister,  whose  heavy 
gold  pendants  had  made  her  the  "observed  of  all  observers,"" 
during  Father  Hersey's  sermon,  approached  the  Reverened  gen- 
tleman, and  said,  "Father  Hersey,  before  discarding  my  ear- 
rings, as  .unnecessary,  be  kind  enough  to  inform  me  what  use- 
thoso  two  buttons  on  the  back  of  your  coat  are  designed  for."" 
For  a  moment,  a  blush  mantled  the  good  man's  cheek,  but  it 
was  for  a  moment  only,  for  seizing  a  knife  he  quickly  remov- 
ed the  offending  buttons,  exclaiming,  "Sister,  let  the  buttons 
go  with  the  jewelry,"  and  from  that  day,  till  that  of  hi» 
death,  Father  Hersey  as  sedulously  eschewed  buttons  as  the 
lady  did  ornaments. 

City  Missionary. 

Whilst  City  Missionary  in  Baltimore,  Father  Hersey  on 
a  cold,  snowy  December  day,  in  going  his  accustomed  round 
of  duty,  soliciting  for  the  suffering  poor,  in  whom  he  always 
manife=ted  the  liveliest  interest,  stopped  in,  at  the  store  of  a- 
Hebrew  gentleman,  who  was  more  noted  for  profanity,  than, 
charity.  The  clothier,  who  was  busy  waiting  upon  a  lady 
customer,  had  never  met  Father  Hersey,  and  supposing  from 
his  coarse  though  neat  garb,  that  he  was  a  mendicant,  rough- 
ly querried,  "Old  man.  are  you  a  beggar  ?"  "I  am  begging 
to-day,"  quietly  rejoined  the  Missionary  ;  then  roughly  re- 
plied the  merchant,  "You  had  better  get  out  of  here,  and  go 
to  work"  adding,  "that  is  the  way  I  get  my  clothes,  and  youi 
might  have  better  ones,  if  you  were  industrious,  without 
begging  me  for  them."  "I  do  not  want  clothes,"  quietly 
responded  the  unselfish  minister;  "I  am  amply  supplied  by 
He  whom  you  crucified  on  Calvary,  but  you  are  angry,  and 
I  can't  leave  until  you  get  cool,  when  I  will  talk  to  you." 
Astonished  at  the  unruffled  demeanor  and  dignified  manner 
of  the  thinly  clad,  aud  insulted  stranger,  the  merchant  c>uer- 


JOHN  HERSEY.  59 

ried  "Who  can  he  be?"  "That"  whispered  the  lady,  "is 
Father  Her sey ;"  he  is  the  only  wholly  unselfish  man,  that 
I  have  ever  met;  rejoined  the  merchant,  "and  now  sir" 
addressing  Father  Hersey,  "after  begging  your  pardon,  tell 
what  are  your  wants  and  they  shall  be  supplied."  Look  at 
my  coat,  you  see  1  need  none,  I  want  nothing  for  myself;" 
but  there  is  a  poor  woman  near  you,  who  is  suffering  for  the 
•common  necessaries  of  life,  and  you  must  relieve  her."  "I 
will,"  returned  the  merchant,  and  turning  to  the  best  blankets 
in  the  store,  he  directed  his  clerk  to  wrap  up  as  many  as 
Father  Hersey  should  deem  necessary,  whilst  he  armed  the 
good  Missionary  with  an  order  upon  his  grocer,  authorizing 
him  to  draw  upon  that  tradesman  for  the  remainder;  the  order 
•covering  in  amount  whatever  sum  in  Father  Hersey's  judg- 
ment should  be  required  to  meet  the  widow's  necessities. 

On  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath. 
On  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath,  Father  Hersey  says: 

"There  has  recently  been  much  controversey  in  the  Chris- 
tian world,  respecting  the  Sabbath  day,  whether  its  obliga- 
tions are  binding  on  Christians,  or  not.  It  is  incorporated  in 
the  Decalogue,  and  for  us,  one  of  the  commandments  deliv- 
ered to  Moses,  by  the  hand  of  God  himself.  Christ's  gospel, 
is  admirably  adapted  to  the  wants  and  conditions  of  all  man- 
kind, and  must  ultimately  prevail  in  every  clime  on  earth  ; 
therefore  the  Sabbath  day  has  been  wisely  passed  over  in  the 
New  Testament,  almost  in  silence,  lest  vain  jangling  and  idle 
controversey  about  forms  and  shadows  should  engage  the 
minds  and  engross  the  time  of  dying  mortals.  The  custom 
of  the  fathers,  and  the  inferences  of  the  Gospel,  are  sufficient 
to  establish  fully  the  right  of  Christians  to  enjoy  one  day  in 
each  week  devoted  to  rest  and  worship.  The  inhabitants  of 
the  frozen  regions,  and  Torrid  zone,  may  equally  claim  and 
enjoy  the  unspeakable  blessing  of  devoting  one-seventh 
part  of  their  time,  exclusively  to  the  "service  of  the  Lord, 
and  whether  it  be  the  first  or  seventh  day  of  the  week,  can 
make  no  difference  to  God,  who  is  a  spirit,  and  must  be  wor- 
shipped in  spirit  and  in  truth.  It  is  very  much  to  be  feared, 
that  those  who  cavil  with  so  much  rigidity  about  its  formal 
observance,  know  very  little  about  God's  holy  law,  which  is 
/'//-,  or  of  his  worship,  which  is  spiritual  in  its  nature,  and 
delightful  in  its  operation.  Not  long  since,  I  spent  the  close 


«0  SKETCH  OF 

of  the  week  with  an  old  and  respectable  membsr  of  the 
church.  On  the  Sabbath  morning,  almost  the  first  sound 
that  reached  rny  ear,  was  the  axe  ;  I  reasoned  with  my  kind 
friend  on  the  impropriety  and  awful  consequences  of  such 
conduct.  He  frankly  acknowledged  his  faults,  but  alleged 
that  his  servants  were  to  blame — he  could  not  control  them — 
it  was  an  express  violation  of  his  orders.  As  he  could  not 
prevent  it,  he  supposed  he  was  innocent  himself.  Do  you 
think,  said  I,  if  there  was  a  fine  of  ten  dollars  only,  for  cut- 
ting wood  on  the  Sabbath  day,  that  those  ungovernable 
•servants  would  be  guilty  of  a  violation  of  the  law,  and  com- 
pel you  to  pay  the  ten  dollars  every  week  ?  He  promptly 
and  frankly  replied,  no  sir,  I  am  sure  it  would  not  be  the 
case.  Suppose  the  President  was  to  issue  a  proclamation 
offering  to  every  one,  who  would  observe  the  fourth  com- 
mandment for  one  year,  fifty  thousand  dollars,  do  we  honestly 
believe  that  we  should  be  as  careless  under  such  circumstan- 
ces, as  we  are  now  ?  Would  there  be  the  sound  of  an  axe 
heard  on  our  premises  ?  Would  our  servants  be  laboring  on 
that  day,  preparing  a  sumptuous  repast,  against  we  returned 
from  a  social  visit  ?  Would  we  talk  business  and  politics, 
sooner  than  divine  love  and  law  ?  No  sir,  I  think  we  could 
very  well  fare  on  cold  food  for  fifty-two  days  in  a  year  for 
that  amount,  it  would  be  near  a  thousand  dollars  a  day — it 
would  soon  be  over,  and  then  we  would  be  comfortable  for 
life.  If  we  would  keep  the  day  more  strict  to  get  fifty 
thousand,  or  fifty  millions  of  money,  than  we  do  under  present 
circumstances,  we  have  no  hope  of  heaven. 

One  Cent  Beggar. 

Many,  very  many  years  ago,  Father  Hersey  met  on  the 
highway,  an  old  grey-headed  man,  who  asked  him  for  one 
cent.  From  the  stranger's  language  and  address,  he  per- 
ceived that  he  had  seen  more  prosperous  days.  Father 
Hersey  asked  him  what  benefit  one  cent  could  be  to  him  ? 
He  replied,  that  he  was  far  from  his  friends  and  home,  and 
occasionally  had  to  pay  ferriage  and  other  incidental  expens- 
es; he  did  not,  however,  complain,  or  intimate,  that  he  was 
unkindly  treated  by  the  public.  Father  Hersey  then  inquir- 
ed what  his  prospects  were  in  regard  to  another  world. — 
They  were  certainly  very  gloomy  in  the  present.  From  his 
reply  and  the  simple,  but  pointed  relation  of  his  experience, 


JOHN  MERSEY.  61 

he  had  every  reason  to  believe  that  he  was  then  in  possession 
of  the  "pearl  of  great  price,"  though  an  earthly  beggar  ;  he 
paused  and  pondered  the  circumstances  over  in  his  own  mind; 
here  is  a  child,  thought  Father  Hersey,  of  my  heavenly  Fath- 
er, an  old  grey-headed  pilgrim  of  the  cross,  a  stranger  in 
a  strange  land,  far  from  any  earthly  friends  and  comforts, 
who  respectfully  solicits  one  cent  to  aid  him  on  his  toilsome 
journey. 

Father  Hersey  says,  "I  examined  myself  from  head  to 
foot,  and  found  that  I  had  expended  many  dollars  for  what 
miglit  have  been  dispensed  with,  without  depriving  me  of  one 
real  benefit,  or  comfort. — first,  several  dollars  might  have 
been  saved  in  my  hat,  and  something  from  every  part  of  my 
dress.  I  thought  of  the  poor  widow  who  gave  two  mites, 
and  reflected  upon  our  Saviour's  command  to  gather  up  the 
fragments,  that  nothing  might  be  lost. — I  thought  upon  the 
crown  of  thorns,  that  another  stranger  in  this  cold  world  wore 
for  me.  I  was  ashamed,  I  was  condemned — I  found  this 
man's  blood  upon  me ;  the  money  with  which  these  unneces- 
sary things  were  purchased, 'belonged  to  this  poor  old  man's 
father.  Was  I  not  a  robber  ?  And  what  was  my  gain  ? — 
Pride,  that  master  sin  was  fed  and  strengthened.  And  what 
was  my  motive  ?  Evidently  to  recommend  myself  to  the 
sons  of  Belial,  my  Divine  Master's  deadly  enemies.  I  saw 
them  and  still  believe  that  one  cent  expended  to  gratify  the 
passions  or  appetite  exclusively,  or  for  any  article  not  really 
useful  and  beneficial,  is  a  departure  from  the  high  and  honar- 
ble  standard  of  mercy :  "except  ye  deny  yourself  daily,  and 
take  up  your  cross,  and  follow  Me,  ye  cannot  be  My  disci- 
ples." 

I  then  resolved  to  adopt  the  dress,  and  endeavor  to  con- 
form more  closely  to  the  practice  of  a  Christian. 

Stain  on  the  Floor. 

Father  Hersey  used  to  relate  the  following  anecdote, 
which  he  alleged  made  a  powerful  impression  upon  his  mind, 
and  which  he  intended  should  have  a  good  effect  upon  the 
minds  of  those  to  whom  he  related  it. 

"Being  unwell  at  the  house  of  a  friend,  where  everything 
was  neat  and  clean — the  floor  of  my  chamber  being  unusual- 
ly white, — the  servant  brought  in  a  small  mug,  containing  a 


62  SKETCH  OF 

preparation  for  me  to  take  as  I  retired  to  bed.  It  was  set  on 
the  hearth — a  brand  fell  and  upset  it,  part  of  the  contents 
ran  on  the  floor ;  I  removed  it  as  soon  as  possible,  but  felt 
not  a  little  mortified  at  the  careless  occurrence.  At  four 
o'clock  when  I  arose  and  lighted  the  candle,  the  floor  attract- 
ed my  first  attention,  and  to  my  great  surprise  and  gratifica- 
tion, there  was  no  stain  to  be  seen  ;  it  was  dry  and  white. 
With  the  light  of  the  candle,  I  could  distinctly  see  to  read 
very  small  print.  When  the  sun  arose,  and  shone  into  the 
room,  a  plain  stain  was  quite  perceptible  on  the  floor.  By  this 
accident,  I  was  led  to  the  following  reflections :  with  the 
light  I  now  use,  all  appears  to  be  well — no  stain  is  percepti- 
ble, but  when  the  light  of  eternity  shines  forth  upon  my 
soul,  will  there  be  no  stain,  or  dark  marks  to  be  seen  ?  Do 
I  now  honestly  bring  the  light  of  God's  holy  word  and  spirit 
to  bear  on  my  heart  and  conscience  ?  Is  there  nothing 
which  that  standard  enjoins  which  I  omit;  nothing  which  it 
forbids  that  I  indulge  in  ? 

On  Begging  Money  from  the  Irreligious. 

Father  Hersey's  views  on  begging  money  from  sinners,  do 
not  accord  with  the  prcctice  now  so  prevalent.  He  says  : 

What  must  sinners  think  of  us  when  we  declare  faithfully 
to  them,  that  they  must  be  turned  into  hell,  and  then  ask 
them  for  pecuniary  aid.  What  would  be  thought  of  the  soldier 
who  in  time  of  conflict,  sought  to  obtain  among  his  enemies, 
the  means  to  continue  the  war  against  their  leader  ?  Would 
they  not  rejoice  to  get  rid  of  such  tormenting  neighbors  ? 
Reason  and  honor  declare  aloud  that  the  church  shonld  keep 
within  her  own  borders,  in  collecting  money  for  any  religious 
purpose.  Our  nakedness  is  by  this  course  sometimes  com- 
pletely exposed. 

I  was  sometime  since,  eye  witness  to  a  mortifying  scene, 
which  is  a  case  in  point,  strengthened  both  my  fears  and 
supposition.  A  minister  of  the  gospel,  at  a  three  days' 
meeting,  observed  one  or  two  advertisements  on  the  side  of 
the  church,  he  immediately  removed  them  from  that  place — 
very  soon  he  was  called  on  by  an  enraged  sinner  to  know  if 
he  had  taken  down  his  advertisement,  the  preacher  replied 
mildly  in  the  affirmative.  The  insulted  child  of  Belial,  per 
emptorily  demanded  them  of  him ;  he  had  thrown  them  away 
but  they  were  picked  up  and  given  to  the  rightful  owner,  he 


JOHN  HERSEY.  63 

then  in  a  boisterous,  profane  manner  declared,  that  he  had 
paid  his  money  towards  building  that  house  ;  consequently, 
he  had  as  much  right  to  it  as  any  other  man,  and  in  an  open, 
daring,  insulting  manner,  hammered  his  paper  up  to  the 
house  again,  in  the  presence  of  a  large  concourse  of  people,  and 
triumphantly  dared  any  man  to  touch  them  again.  The 
poor  insulted  servant  of  God,  was  compelled  to  see  his  Fath- 
er's house,  the  Lord's  Sanctuary,  degraded  to  the  level  of  a 
common  tavern,  or  ordinary  sign-post,  or  fight  the  devil  oni 
his  own  ground. 

By  the  unguarded  and  indelicate  course  of  begging  from 
sinners,  we  place  ourselves  within  their  power.  All  God's 
children  are — they  must  be  honorable  people  ;  nothing  could 
be  more  painful,  and  mortifying  to  a  high  minded  sinner, 
than  to  be  compelled  to  ask  a  favor  of  his  enemy  ;  surely 
our  sense  of  honor  is  not  more  obtuse,  than  that  of  those 
who  are  regarded  by  the  Lord  Jesus,  as  children  of  the 
devil." 

On,  Apostolic  Prayer. 

"For  this  cause  I  bow  my  knees  unto  the  Father  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  of  whom  the  whole  family  in  heaven  and 
earth  is  named. 

That  he  would  grant,  you  according  to  the  riches  of  his 
glory,  to  be  strengthened  with  might  by  his  spirit  in  the 
inner  man. 

That  Christ  may  dwell  in  your  hearts  by  faith  ,  that  ye, 
being  rooted  and  grounded  in  love,  may  be  able  to  compre- 
hend with  all  saints,  what  is  the  breadth,  and  length  and 
depth  and  heigh th. 

And  to  know  the  love  of  Christ,  which  passeth  knowledge, 
that  ye  might  be  filled  with  all  the  fullness  of  God. 

Now  unto  him  who  is  able  to  do  exceedingly  abundantly 
above  all  that  we  ask  or  think,  according  to  the  power  that 
worketh  in  us. 

Unto  him  be  glory  in  the  church  by  Christ  Jesus  throughout 
all  ages,  world  without  end.  Amen." 

The  above,  says  Father  Hersey,  is  the  sublimest  interces- 
sory prayer  on  record,  embodying  the  supplication  for  those 
blessings  in  language,  the  most  magnificent  that  ever  issued 


64  SKETCH  OF 

from  human  lips.     Here  we  find  the  full  length  and  finished 
portrait  of  intercessory  prayer. 

Father  Hersey  thus  photographs  the  Apostle  to  the  Gren- 
tiles  : 

"If  ever  there  was  a  man,  who  lived  for  others,  not  him- 
self— willing  to  endure  any  suffering  by  which  the  sufferings 
of  others  might  be  soothed,  and  in  promoting  the  happiness 
of  others,  supremely  desirous  to  find  his  own — that  man  was 
St.  Paul. 

If  ever  there  was  a  human  heart  in  which  the  divine  spirit 
of  Christian  benevolence  was  enthroned,  and  had  brought 
every  feeling,  affection  and  passion  to  bow  beneath  its  sceptre 
of  love,  it  was  the  heart  of  the  great  Apostle  of  the  Gen- 
tiles. 

If  ever  there  was  a  character  moulded  in  every  feature 
after  the  adorable  Redeemer's,  and  reflecting  in  beautiful 
clearness,  the  image  of  him  who  was  the  incarnate  manifesta- 
tion of  divine  love,  it  was  the  character  of  this  greatest  of 
merely  human  philanthropists,  and  if  ever  there  was  a  life  of 
mere  man,  which  might  be  considered  but  as  one  embodied 
and  unbroken  exhibition\>f  disinterested  zeal  for  the  advance- 
ment of  human  happiness,  it  was  the  life  of  St.  Paul,  from 
the  moment  he  met  Jesus  on  the  way  to  Damascus,  and  fell 
to  the  ground,  beneath  his  piercing  expostulations,  till  the 
moment,  when,  as  the  dying  testimony  of  his  gratitude  to 
that  Jesus,  he  bowed  his  head  beneath  the  murderous  axe," 

Will  the  reader  not  join  with  us  in  asserting,  that  if  in 
more  modern  times,  there  has  lived  one  who  deserved  and 
earned  the  application  of  the  above  pen  portrait — that  man 
was  John  Hersey.  We  cannot  better  present  Father  Hersey 
to  our  readers,  than 'by  copying  entire  the  following  vigor- 
ous epistle  from  an  eminent  and  able  member  of  the  Phila- 
delphia Conference.  All  who  ever  met  Father  Hersey  will 
recognize  the  picture : 


JOHN  HEESEY.  65 


CHAPTER  X. 

Nbrristown,  Pa.,  January  19<A,    1879. 
MY  DEAR  BROTHER  : 

My  acquaintance  with  that  memorable  man  of  God,  of  whom 
you  speak,  Rev.  John  Hersey,  or  John  Hersey  without  the 
"Reverend,"  (as  he  preferred  to  be  called,)  was  not  very  close 
and  intimate,  though  it  covered  a  tolerable  long  period. 

The  first  time  I  ever  saw  this  unique  man,  was  in  my  boy- 
hood. The  year  I  have  forgotten,  and  have  no  means  of 
refreshing  my  memory. 

He  was  at  my  father's  house  in  the  ^village  of  Trappe, 
Talbot  County,  Maryland,  which  was  the  regular  home  for 
the  preachers.  I  had  been  accustomed  to  the  sight  and  con- 
versation of  preachers,  from  my  earliest  childhood  ;  but  this 
was  a  preacher  differing  from  all  others.  He  was  a  thin, 
spare,  stoop-shouldered,  sharp  featured  man,  with  ke'en,  pene- 
trating eyes,  and  quick  movements,  whose  whole  aim  was  to 
publish  Christ,  to  live  Christ,  and  to  bring  men  to  Christ. 
This  was  evident  to  the  most  casual  observer,  who  was  with 
him  for  the  briefest  period.  This  was  the  atmosphere  he 
breathed,  this  was  the  food  he  ate,  this  was  the  dominant — 
the  ever-present  thought  and  effort.  I  can  recall  how  my 
young  heart  was  awe-stricken  by  such  intense  and  all  absorb- 
ing consecration  to  God.  I  reverenced  ministers,  but  here 
was  a  man  who  made  me  tremble  in  his  presence. 

He  wore  a  suit  of  gray,  the  fabric  was  coarse  and  inex- 
pensive ;  the  cut,  plain  ;  the  shad-belly  coat,  having  a 
standing  collar ;  there  wore  no  buttons  oh  his  coat  or  vest. 
Hooks  and  eyes  were  less  conspicuous,  and  less  expensive, 
and  served  as  well  the  intended  purpose,  which  was  not  show, 
but  use.  A  clean  turn  down  collar  gave  him  the  appear- 
ance of  scrupulous  tidiness,  but  no  cravat  encumbered  the 
neck.  Coarse,  strong  shoes  protected  hia  feet,  and  a  palm 
leaf  hat  with  a  twine  string  band,  covered  his  head. 

At  table  and  everywhere,  his  conversation  was  spiritual 
and  religiously  edifying,  with  a  small  sprinkling  of  anecdote. 


66  SKETCH  OF 

His  food  was  simple,  nutritious  and  abstemiously  used.  He 
slept  (according  to  his  own  request),  upon  a  straw  bed,  and 
often,  I  believe,  on  the  floor. 

He  had  books  of  his  own  writing,  and  others  I  believe,  of 
his  own  compiling,  which  he  offered  for  sale,  but  did  not 
urge  any  one  to  buy.  I  remember  I  took  a  fancy  to  one — 
his  extracts  from  Wesley — and  with  the  consent  and  the  aid 
of  my  father,  bought  it.  This  man  all  afire  with  the  con- 
straining love  of  Christ  deemed  every  moment  designed  for 
the  holy  use.  He  was  in  his  room  writing;  through  the  vil- 
lage visiting  and  praying  ;  in  the  stores,  the  shops,  the  family 
preaching.  I  well  remember  a  question  he  asked  my  father, 
"Is  there  any  family  for  whom  others  do  not  care  ?"  My 
father  told  him  of  an  abandoned  family,  living  in  a  long 
deserted  house,  on  the  outskirts  of  the  village,  where  rum 
and  prostitution  had  full  sway.  To  that  place,  this  man  of 
God  went,  carrying  as  well  as  I  remember,  some  useful 
article  of  food  for  them  in  their  family,  amazing  the  people 
of  the  village,  and  those  outcasts,  by  his  condescending  ten- 
derness. At  five  o'clock  in  the  morning,  the  old  church  was 
Tocal  with  his  clear  penetrating  voice,  as  he  preached  Jesus 
and  the  resurrection  to  no  inconsiderable  multitude.  Tarry- 
ing thus  for  a  few  days,  he  left  to  bless  other  towns,  villages 
and  rural  neighborhoods.  After  an  interval,  he  returned  to 
our  village.  When  I  heard  of  his  prospective  visit,  I  recol- 
lect how  anxious  I  was  to  finish  reading  "Extracts  from 
Wesley,"  in  order  that  I  might  have  some  valuable  knowl- 
edge of  the  book,  for  I  was  very  sure  he  would  catechise  as 
to  the  use  I  had  made  of  it  Years  elapsed  before  this  mar- 
velous man  made  his  appearance  again.  He  had  been  to 
remote  points,  ever  busy  and  full  of  work  for  Christ. 
Wherever  John  Hersey  was,  he  could  say  with  something  of 
the  spirit  of  Jesus  (more,  probably  than  any  man  I  ever 
knew),  "Wist  ye  not,  that  I  must  be  about  my  Father's 
business." 

I  remember  one  cold  Sabbath  day,  when  the  wind  and 
etorm  kept  the  people  away,  how  he  talked  to  the  few  who 
were  present,  on  the  text:  "Fear  not,  little  flock,  for  it  is 
your  Father's  good  pleasure  to  give  you  the  kingdom."  He 
put  his  hands  up  to  his  ears,  in  a  gesture  peculiar  te  himself, 
and  which  he  used  only  when  intensely  interested  in  what  he 
was  saying,  and  rung  the  charges  on  "little  flock"  and  point- 


JOHN  HERSEY.  67 

ed  us  to  the  "Kingdom."  So  close  was  his  preaching,  so 
awfully  appalling  was  his  proclamation  of  the  truth  in  its 
sterner  aspects,  so  perfectly  opposite  to  anything  latitudina- 
rian,  that  when  we  were  returning  from  church,  where  he 
had  defined  to  us  the  way  of  life,  the  young  lady  with  whom 
I  was  walking,  asked  me  "Are  there  any  Christians?''  Just 
here  I  think  was  a  defect  in  his  ministry  ;  he  was  not  suffi- 
ciently Jobian  to  give  a  gospel  of  hope  :  it  was  almost  a 
gospel  of  despair.  And  yet,  God  owned  his  ministry  at 
times  wonderfully. 

At  Royal  Oak  camp  meeting  in  Talbot  County,  some- 
where about  1841,  he  preached  a  woderful  sermon,  "Casting 
four  anchors,  and  waiting  for  day ;"  he  seemed  inspired. 
Spry  Downs,  a  wealthy  citizen,  rather  advanced  in  years, 
with  others,  many  others,  came  to  Christ,  under  the  influ- 
ence of  his  wonderful  appeal.  Assisting  Rev.  John  Bell 
and  Rev.  John  Rutter,  he  preached  on  Talbot  Circuit,  at  -a 
meeting  in  St.  Michael's.  The  religious  interest  chiefly  un- 
der his  ministrations  was  so  intense  and  all  absorbing,  that 
people  quit  business,  stores  were  closed,  farmers  left  their 
work,  the  house  of  God  was  crowded  all  day,  during  the 
week.  Religion  was  the  theme.  Dr.  James  Dawson  fell, 
and  was  converted,  whilst  Father  Hersey  was  preaching. 

Commencing  my  ministry  on  Talbot  Circuit,  in  1851,  un- 
der the  Elder,  Thos.  J.  Quigley,  with  Rev.  Jas.  A.  Massey, 
as  my  colleague  ;  we  had  a  camp  meeting  at  the  Bayside. 
Father  Hersey  was  with  us;  he  preached  a  powerful,  elo- 
quent and  deeply  impressive  sermon,  on  "The  wicked  spread- 
ing himself  like  a  green  bay  tree." 

The  last  time  I  saw  Father  Hersey  was  in  Green  St. 
Church,  Philadelphia,  iu  1861  The  pastor,  Rev.  Win.  N. 
Brisbane  was  sick  and  died  not  long  after.  As  his  neighbor, 
I  was  requested  to  administer  the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's 
Supper  to  his  people  ;  P'ather  Hersey  being  in  the  congrega- 
tion, I  requested  him  to  assist  in  the  solemn  service,  which 
he  did.  He  was  more  tender  and  subdued  in  manner  than 
I  had  ever  seen  him ;  less  abuse  of  worldliness  bristled  in  his 
address :  he  was  sweet  and  full  of  love,  but.  he  could  not 
forbear  condemning  flowers,  feathers  and  jewelry. 

About  the  time  I  have  covered  in  these  reminiscences, 
Isaac  Taylor  wrote:  "The  Methodism  of  the  eighteenth 


68  SKETCH  OF 

century  has  ceased  to  have  any  extant  representative  among 
us."  If  he  had  known  John  Hersey,  I  doubt  whether  he 
would  have  made  as  sweeping  a  declaration.  John  Hersey 
had  his  faults ;  my  impression  is,  that  he  failed  at  a  cardinal 
point,  in  failing  to  make  religion  a  genial,  attractive  and  joy- 
ous experience.  He  was  too  much  of  an  ascetic.  He  acted 
too  much  as  if  he  served  a  hard  master.  His  manner  of  life 
and  preaching  did  not  recommend  Christianity  as  joy-giving, 
but  for  deadness  to  the  world,  entire  devotedness  to  Christ, 
intentness,  or  making  the  most  of  his  opportunity  for  doing 
good,  intensity  of  effort  at  all  times  and  in  all  places,  to  save 
souls  and  to  bring  men  to  a  knowledge  of  salvation  through 
Christ.  I  do  not  remember  ever  to  have  seen  John  Her- 
sey's  superior,  nor  even  his  equal. 

With  kind  remembrance,  I  remain  your  brother  in  Christ, 

JOHN  F.  CHAPLAIN,  D.  D. 

Phila.  Conference. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Labors  on  Church  Hill  Circuit. 

Thus,  might  have  mused  Father  Hersey,  as  he  wrote  from 
Orange  Court  House,  Va.,  Sept  12th,  1835  :  "My  way  has 
recently  been  hedged  up;  I  should,  before  this,  have  left  the 
State,  and  directed  my  steps  towards  Ohio  or  Pennsylvania, 
but  thought  it  most  prudent  to  remain  here  until  the  storm 
subsides,  should  that  ever  be.  I  have  been  an  object  of  pe- 
culiar hatred  ;  I  believe  however,  the  God  "whose  I  am  and 
whom  I  serve,"  will  deliver  and  protect  me  from  ,all  danger 
When  I  shall  have  fully  delivered  my  own  soul  with  the  peo- 
ple, if  my  life  is  spared,  I  shall  leave  Virginia  ;  the  Lord's 
will  be  done  ;  the  Lord  keep  my  mind  in  peace  and  stayed  on 
the  Lord  Jesus." 

Father  Hersey  had  made  up  his  mind  to  change  the  field  of 
his  operations ;  how  long  after  writing  the  above  he  remained 
in  Virginia  is  unknown,  but  he  is  found  at  his  spiritual  work 
in  Pennsylvania,  Delaware,  and  on  the  Eastern  Shore  counties 
of  Maryland  during  some  subsequent  years. 


JOHN  HERSEY.  69 

Rev.  E.  J.  Way  states,  that  during  the  year  1839  he  was 
preaching  and  selling  his  books  in  Accomac  county,  Virginia  ; 
that  he  occasionally  met  him  and  was  assisted  by  him  in  his 
fields  of  labor.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  Eastern  Shore 
counties  were  among  the  most  successful  fields  of  his  ministe- 
rial success :  throughout  their  breadth  his  name  is  precious  as 
ointment.  He  was  frequently  employed  as  a  supply  on  dif- 
ferent circuits  within  the  bounds  of  the  Philadelphia  and 
Baltimore  Conferences. 

About  the  year  1840  (although  the  precise  year  is  not 
altogether  certain,  it  cannot  however,  be  later  than  1842), 
he  traveled  the  Church  Hill  Circuit,  Queen  Anne's  County, 
where  he  was  hailed  with  joy,  and  was  instrumental  in  accom- 
plishing much  good  ;  for  a  time  he  journeyed  to  his  appoint- 
ments on  foot,  but  finally  was  persuaded  to  buy  a  horse  ;  then 
it  was  insisted  that  he  should  provide  himself  with  a  buggy, 
his  health  being  endangered  by  the  rays  of  the  sun  in  sum- 
mer, and  the  cold  and  rain  of  winter ;  finally  he  acceded  to 
this  wish,  and  provided  himself  with  a  gig  of  his  own  con- 
struction; the  top  covering  consisted  of  white  muslin.  Thus 
equipped  with  a  traveling  conveyance,  for  the  spiritual  war- 
fare, he  went  forth;  (those  who  saw  Father  Hersey's  vehicle, 
will  recall  its  appearance  ;)  on  the  road  he  met  two  sisters 
belonging  to  one  of  his  congregations  ;  they  were  driving 
towards  town,  he  from  it.  Their  horse  became  frightened 
at  the  sight  of  the  singular  equipage,  and  ran  away,  threvr 
them  out  of  their  carriage,  injuring  them  badly  but  not  seri- 
ously ;  the  good  old  man  was  highly  mortified  over  this  mis- 
hap, and  at  the  earliest  opportunity,  he  procured  lamp  black 
and  oil,  which  he  applied  bountifully  to  the  white  covering  of 
his  gig. 

While  at  Church  Hill,  he  resided  with  a  poor  widow  who 
had  a  family  of  children,  dependant  upon  her  for  support; 
she  was  also  afflicted  and  without  the  means  of  relieving  her 
want.  It  is  said  of  him  that  he  was  generous  to  the  poor, 
and  this  widow  shared  largely  of  his  bounty  ;  nor  did  he  for- 
get her  when  the  time  for  his  departure  from  this  circuit  was 
at  hand  ;  having  no  further  use  for  his  horse,  he  proposed 
selling  him  ;  brother  H ,  willing  to  buy,  asked  the  pur- 
chase price,  and  upon  being  answered  the  same  as  he  had 
paid  for  him,  provided,  good  care  would  be  taken  of  the 


70  SKETCH    OF 

animal.     Brother  H rejoined  that  the  amount  asked, 

was  not  enough  by  several  dollars  ;  whereupon,  Father  Her- 
sey stopped  him  saying,  '  'I  am  not  a  horse  trader,  and  don't 
want  to  get  more  than  I  paid  for  him  ;"  after  the  price  was 

agreed  upon,  brother  H proposed  to  give  his  note  for 

future  payment,  but  Father   Hersey  point  blank  refused  it, 

and  said,    "When   you  get  the  money,  pay  it  to  Mr. ,  a 

merchant  in  the  town,  who  wiir supply  the  needy  with  groce- 
ries to  the  amount  you  owe  me."  In  this  arrangement  he 
did  not  forget  the  widow,  whose  humble  home  was  his  circuit 
parsonage,  and  she  shared  largely  in  the  distribution. 

It  is  stated  during  a  Quarterly  Meeting  held  at  Centre- 
ville,  on  this  circuit,  that  an  official  brother  who  had  charged 
usurious  interest  on  a  sum  of  money  loaned  by  him,  invited 
Father  Hersey  to  his  house  for  dinner,  to  which  he  quickly 
replied,  "That  he  could  not  break  bread  |with  any  one  who 
had  charged  unlawful  interest."  He  was  averse  to  seeing 
rooms  adorned  with  picturers  and  on  viewing  them,  would  re- 
peat with  peculiar  emphasis  the  commandment — "Thou 
shalt  not  make  unto  thee  any  graven  image,  or  any  likeness 
of  anything  that  is  in  heaven  above,  or  that  is  in  the  earth 
beneath,  or  that  is  in  the  water  under  the  earth  "  Upon 
dining  with  a  friend,  he  ate  heartily,  and  upon  being  press- 
ed to  take  more,  accompanied  with  the  statement  you  have 
not  ate  anything,  he  expostulated,  "Don't  speak. an  untruth.'* 

On  one  occasion  he  was  preaching  to  a  large  congregation, 
many  of  the  ladies  wore  their  hair  braided  in  front.  Father 
Hersey  regarded  the  innovation  (for  it  was  a  new  fashion) 
with  dislike,  and  remarked,  "Here  you  are  with  your  hair  in 
all  sorts  of  vain  styles,  some  even  plaited  up  like  town 
ladders." 

He  visited  a  friend  in  Easton,  Maryland,  who  had  recently 
refurnished  his  house,  in  modern  style ;  throughout  was  lux- 
uriant and  costly  furniture,  and  nearby  stood  the  church, 
with  its  spire  pointing  heavenward.  Father  Hersey  after  a 
few  hours  in  his  friend's  domicile,  feeling  ill  at  ease  amid  its 
costly  furniture,  went  to  the  door  for  relief,  when  lo  and  be- 
hold, the  first  sight  his  eyes  rested  upon,  was  the  church  with 
its  steple  ;  calling. to  his  friend  who  quickly  joined  him  ; 
Father  Hersey  threw  up  his  hands  and  exclaimed,  "Brother, 
that  church  has  gone  to  seed 


JOHN  HERSEY.  71 

The  foregoing  anecdotes  have  their  point,  and  are  no  tri- 
fling circumstances  in  enabling  us  properly  to  ascertain  the 
character  of  the  godly  man  to  whom  they  refer.  He  did  not 
hesitate  to  rebuke  sin,  whether  of  avarice  or  pride,  and  with- 
all  he  gave  alms ;  what  he  taught,  he  practiced  ;  he  was  a 
model  of  his  own  honest  profession,  at  all  times  true  and 
loyal  to  his  ministerial  calling. 

Labors  on  Dorchester  Circuit 

In  1841,  Father  Hersey  attended  a  camp  meeting  at 
Ebenezer,  Cambridge  Circuit,  in  Dorchester  County ;  in 
attendance,  there  was  also  a  gay  young  man  from  the  city  of 
Baltimore  ;  he  had  been  trained  in  the  fear  of  and  admoni- 
tion of  the  Lord,  but  had  departed  from  the  true  faith,  and 
adopted  the  doctrines  of  Universalism.  On  the  Sabbath 
day,  Father  Hersey  preached  one  of  his  argumentative  ser- 
mons ;  the  congregation  was  enraptured,  the  young  man's 
attention  was  closely  riveted,  and  the  effect  produced  was  so 
convincing,  as  to  cause  him  to  return  again  to  the  accept' 
ance  of  the  views  of  his  father.  He  was  converted  and 
became  a  useful  member  of  the  church.  The  shadows  are 
now  gathering  about  his  path,  and  the  close  of  his  life's  day 
is  nearing.  Oh,  how  he  rejoices  that  it  was  his  privilege  to 
have  heard  that  Sunday  sermon,  in  the  blissful  hope  of  an 
immortality  beyond  the  grave,  and  a  reunion  with  Father 
Hersey  in  the  spirit  land  ;  he  is  consoled  as  he  nears  the 
valley  of  death.  In  this  same  year  he  was  made  a  life  mem- 
ber of  the  Maryland  State  Bible  Society,  by  contribution 
raised  at  the  camp  meeting  on  the  Cambridge  Circuit.  He 
also  was  present  at  the  camp  held  at  Wheatley's,  in  the 
upper  end  of  Dorchester  County  ;  here  he  also  preached  on 
the  Lord's  day,  and  his  sermon  was  attended  with  marked 
results  :  among  others,  John  Clements'  heart  was  powerfully 
effected,  his  entire  being  trembled  under  the  power  of  the 
word  ;  he  returned  to  his  home,  complained  of  sickness  and 
sent  for  the  doctor ;  but  it  was  not  a  physician  he  needed  for 
the  body,  and  the  doctor  so  told  him  ;  rather  was  it  one  for 
the  soul.  Brothers  William  Allen,  Mace  M.  Mezzick  and 
S.  Williams,  were  called  into  his  presence,  and  found  him 
agonizing  under  deep  contrition  for  sin ;  they  prayed  and 
exhorted  with  him  and  had  the  great  satisfaction  of  witnes- 
sing his  happy  conversion  ;  his  body  now  rests  under  the  sod, 


72  SKETCH  OF 

waiting  the  judgment  day,  but  his  spirit  with  the  sainted 
Hersey's  is  at  home  in  the  kingdom  of  God. 

The  sermon  above  referred  to  made  a  decided  religious 
impression,  and  was  long  remembered  as  Hersey's  grubbing 
sermon  ;  manfully  did  he  labor  that  day  :  eternity  will  re- 
veal a  proud  record  as  its  result.  (The  writer  was  present 
on  that  occasion  at  the  camp  meeting.) 

In  1849,  Father  Hersey  was  appointed  Bible  Agent,  for 
Washington  County,  Maryland;  in  the  Spring  of  1851,  he 
visited  Vienna,  Dorchester  County,  where  the  writer  then 
resided,  and  became  his  guest.  An  account  of  this  visit 
will  not  be  without  some  interest. 

Upon  his  arrival,  he  stated  that  he  had  been  directed  to  my 
house  by  brother  Brindle,  who  had  told  him  that  I  was  a 
plain  Methodist,  and  in  the  family  of  such  an  one,  he  wished 
to  spend  a  few  days,  he  did  not  expect  to  go  to  heav- 
en in  silver  slippers;  he  was  accorded  a  hearty  welcome, 
and  made  to  feel  perfectly  at  ease  and  at  home,  The  visit 
was  one  that  recollection  dwells  upon  with  fondness,  and  was 
of  great  spiritual  profit ;  it  cannot  be  forgotten,  the  humble 
attitude  he  assumed,  when  addressing  the  throne  of  grace — 
morning  and  evening,  calling  down  upon  us  all  our  Father's 
benediction  in  language  of  rarest  simplicity.  At  bed  time, 
upon  ascertaining  that  a  couch  of  feathers  had  been  prepared 
for  his  repose,  he  called,  "Sister,  remove  the  feather  bed,  I 
prefer  the  under  one ;"  things  being  adjusted  to  his  liking, 
he  retired.  At  an  early  hour  in  the  morning,  he  was  heard 
at  his  devotions ;  they  were  contined  until  he  was  summoned 
to  breakfast,  when  all  joined  with  him  in  family  prayer. 

After  he  had  partaken  of  his  morning  meal,  he  at  once 
entered  upon  his  Master's  work,  visiting  from  house  to  house 
throughout  the  entire  village. 

-At  this  time  the  Baptists  were  erecting  a  church  ;  accord- 
to  their  usual  custom,  brother  B their  pastor  had 

preached  several  sermons  on  the  subject  of  immersion.  I 
asked  Father  Hersey  to  discourse  on  the  same  topic  from  a 
Methodist  standpoint,  which  he  consented  to  do  ;  our  denom- 
inational church  was  well  filled  on  the  occasion  of  its  deliv- 
ery— in  a  clear  firm  voice,  he  impressively  gave  out  the 
hymn — "0,  for  a  closer  walk  with  God."  His  text  was  "I 


JOHN  HERSEY.  73 

will  sprinkle  you  with  clean  water."  The  sermon  was  a  con- 
cise logical  effort,  and  those  who  heard  it  were  convinced 
that  on  the  scriptural  subject  of  baptism  he  was  no  novice. 

Friday  morning  he  informed  us,  it  "was  his  usual  custom  on 
that  day  to  abstain  from  the  use  of  food — that  he  feasted 
oil  prayer,  faith  and  humble  love." 

When  the  time  for  departing  was  reached,  he  called  the 
family  together,  read  and  explained  the  scriptures,  and  all 
kneeling,  he  reverently  invoked  the  blessings  of  the  triune 
God  to  rest  upon  us  all:  when  we  were  risen,  he  presented 
my  wife  a  book  of  which  he  was  the  author — Advice  to 
Christian  Parents,  also,  Family  Rales;  a  work  of  his  own 
composing,  and  an  acrostic  on  each  of  our  three  children  ;  he 
then  took  his  departure,  commending  us  to  God,  and  the  word 
of  his  graoe,  which  is  able  to  build  us  up  and  give  us  an  in- 
heritance among  all  them  which  are  sanctified. 

As  a  specimen  of  his  style,  this  chapter  is  concluded  by 
appending  two  of  the  acrostics,  and  his  " Family  Rules," 
which  were  printed  in  convenient  form  for  framing. 

ACROSTIC. 

Will  Jesus  bless  this  little  boy, 
Impart  to  him  both  peace  and  joy, 
Live  ever  in  God's  holy  fear, 
Learn  that  all  wisdom  centres  there 
Improve  eacli  moment  as  it  flies, 
And  you  shall  be  both  good  and  wise, 
May  thus  gain  the  pearl  of  great  price. 

May  you  in  life's  clear  early  morn, 
All  virtues  shining  paths  adorn  : 
Then  you  will  learn  to  watch  and  pray, 
That  in  her  pathway  you  may  stay, 
Honor  God  and  walk  in  wisdom's  way; 
Each  word  you  say  be  kind  and  mild. 
With  all  your  thoughts  still  undefiled. 

Must  learn  to  pity  those  who  ne"5d, 
And  soothe  the  sick ;  the  hungry  feed. 
Remember  Christ  may  say  to  tliee, 
In  heaven  your  great  reward  shall  be, 
Now  in  Christ's  Kingdom  you  shall  shine, 
Eternal  life  shall  there  be  thine. 

The  fear  of  the  Lord  is  the  beginning  of  wisdom,  and  the 
knowledge  of  the  holy,  is  understanding. — PROV.  ix,  10. 


74  SKETCH  OF 

» 

If  you  would  be  wise  and  honorable  and  happy,  you  must 
have  the  fear  of  the  Lord  always  before  your  eyes  ;  this 
divine  principle  must  dwell  in  your  heart,  regulating  and  in- 
fluencing all  your  thoughts,  words  and  actions. 

You  must  fear  to  offend  the  Lord  at  any  time  ;  therefore, 
you  must  keep  all  His  commandments  always.  You  should 
fear  to  grieve  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God,  either  by  word  or 
deed.  You  must  have  a  new,  pure  heart,  to  enable  you  to 
live  the  life  of  the  righteous.  Please  God  and  get  to  heaven. 

Never  forget  that  solemn-  truth — Thou  God  seeth  me ;  and 
avoid  all  idle  and  wicked  company,  and  pray  much  in  secret. 

Vienna.  Md  ,  March  ItJi,  1851.  J.  H. 

ACROSTIC. 

Those  babes,  Christ  takes  into  his  arms. 
Here  smiles,  and  gives  to  them  new  charms. 
O  parents  train  him  in  God's  fear, 
Make  him  his  Saviour's  words  to  hear, 
And  as  his  days  shall  glide  away, 
Still  teach  his  infant  lips  to  pray. 

Prepare  him  Lord  for  life's  rough  sea, 
Righteous  and  pure,  still  may  he  be, 
In  Jesus,  all  God's  goodness  see. 
Christ  says,  of  such  my  kingdom  's  made, 
Each  one  shall  have  my  care  and  aid. 

May  he  be  kept  by  power  divine, 
And  in  his  Saviour's  image  shine. 
Remember  Him  in  riper  years, 
In  mercy  Lord,  dry  up  his  tears. 
No  clouds  of  sin  obscure  his  sky, 
Each  breeze  still  waft  him  up  on  high. 

"But  when  Jesus  saw  it  He  was  much  displeased,  and  said 
unto  them  :  Suffer  the  little  children  to  come  unto  Me,  and 
forbid  them  not ;  for  of  such  is  the  Kingdom  of  God."— 
MARK  x,  14. 

Parents  bring  your  child  to  Christ,  in  the  arms  of  faith 
and  prayer,  teach  his  infant  lips  to  lisp  his  Saviour's  name, 
in  accent's  of  prayer  and  praise. 

"Train  him  up  in  the  way  he  should  go,  and  when  he  is  old 
he  will  not  depart  from  it ;"  the  way  in  which  he  should  go, 
is  the  way  of  holiness  :  nor  are  you  qualified  to  teach  him 
those  things  with  which  you  are  yourself  unacquainted. 


JOHN  HERSEY.  75 

"Therefore,  be  ye  holy,  for  I  am  holy  saith  the  Lord  " 
Remember  that  you  must  meet  Him  in  the  day  of  judgment. 
O  may  it  be  with  joy  and  not  with  grief. 

Vienna,  March  1th,   1851.  J.  H. 

FAMILY  RULES. 

"For  I  know  him,  that  he  will  command  his  children,  and 
his  household  after  him,  and  they  shall  keep  the  way  of  the 
Lord,  to  do  justice  and  judgment." — GEN.  xviii,  18. 

"But  as  for  me  and  my  house,  we  will  serve  the  Lord." — 
JOSH,  xxiv,  15. 

RULE  I. 

Our  time  is  a  precious  talent,  and  must  be  improved. 
Idleness  paves  the  way  to  poverty  and  vice  ;  therefore,  we 
are  determined  to  be  diligent  in  business,  and  also  fervent  in 
spirit,  serving  the  Lord.  We  will  indulge  in  no  unprofitable 
or  uncharitable  conversation,  but  in  that  only  which  is  good 
to  the  use  of  edifying,  ministering  grace  to  the  hearer.  We 
say  nothing  concerning  the  flying  news  of  the  town,  nor  the 
business  of  others,  for  we  desire  to  hear  of  the  things  per- 
taining to  the  Kingdom  of  God.  Nothing  is  to  be  said  re- 
specting the  faults  of  others  ;  nor  will  we  at  any  time  say 
anything  respecting  absent  persons,  which  we  would  be  un- 
willing to  say  in  their  presence. 

RULE  II. 

The  family  shall  be  dedicated  anew  each  morning  to  God 
in  prayer.  All  the  family  in  health,  over  five  years  of  age, 
shall  be  present.  Also  each  evening  this  solemn  duty  shall 
be  attended  to,  at  an  early  hour,  before  the  children  and  ser- 
vants become  too  drowsy  to  hear  what  is  said  profitably, 
that  God's  blessing  may  rest  upon  our  family,  morning  and 
evening. 

RULE  III. 

Except  in  case  of  sickness,  or  other  preventing  providen- 
ces, our  regular  meals  shall  be  served  up  at  stated  hours  ; 
and  no  member  of  the  family  shall  be  permitted  to  make  any 
remarks  at  the  table  respecting  the  food,  its  quality  or  its 
preparation  ;  each  one  must  eat  that  which  is  set  before  him, 


76  SKETCH  OF 

or  her,    asking   no   questions,    and   making   no   comments, 
either  for  or  against. 

RULE  IV. 

The  Lord's  day  must  be  kept  HOLY.  We  will  neither  re- 
ceive nor  pay  visits  on  that  day  ;  neither  will  we  indulge  in 
any  worldly  conversation,  nor  compel  our  servants  to  labor 
for  our  sensual  gratifications ;  therefore,  no  cooking  will  be 
allowed,  except  in  case  of  sickness.  Our  children  and  ser- 
vants shall  be  carefully  instructed,  and  not  suffered  to  pass- 
the  day  in  idleness  or  dissipation.  la  a  word,  we  will  do,  or 
say  nothing  during  the  day,  which  we  would  not  do  or  say,  if 
the  Lord  Jesus  was  personally  present.  Works  of  piety  and 
necessity  alone  shall  be  attended  to. 

RULE  V. 

The  poor  are  respected  and  pitied  ;  therefore,  no  unkind 
censure,  or  invidious  remark  respecting  them,  will  be  allow- 
ed. Although  we  do  not  intend  to  encourage  idleness,  or 
dissolute  practices,  yet  the  poor  shall  never  be  turned  empty 
away  from  our  door.  No  waste,  of  unnecessary  expense  will 
be  indulged  in,  while  so  many  of  our  Heavenly  Father's- 
children  are  suffering  for  bread.  We  will  visit  the  abodes  of 
want  and  poverty,  and  as  far  as  it  may  be  in  our  power,  we 
will  impart  unto  them  spiritual,  as  well  as  temporal  com- 
fort. 

RULE  VI. 

In  our  intercourse  with  our  friends  and  others,  we  are  re- 
solved to  use  all  possible  openness  of  manner  and  expression,, 
having  no  secrets  of  which  we  would  feel  ashamed,  or  that 
may  shame  or  condemn  us  in  the  day  of  eternity.  When 
we  meet  and  when  we  part  with  our  friends,  it  shall  always 
be,  if  practicable,  with  prayer. 

RULE  VII. 

As  it  is  pleasant  and  desirable  for  brethren  to  dwell  togeth- 
er in  unity  and  love,  we  earnestly  desire  any  one  to  reprove 
us  in  a  spirit  of  meekness,  when  we  shall  deviate  from  any 
of  these  rules  ;  so  shall  we  be  as  guardian  angels  to  each 
other  on  earth,  until  we  shall  be  permitted  to  form  a  part  of 
our  Father's  family  in  heaven. 


JOHN  HERSEY.  77 


CHAPTER  XII. 
REMINISCENCES  BY  REV.  S.  W.  THOMAS. 

We  are  indebted  to  Rev.  S.  W.  Thomas,  of  Philadelphia 
Conference,  for  the  following  sketch  : 

I  became  acquainted  with  John  Hersey  in  the  year  1851 ; 
he  came  to,  what  was  then  Church  Hill  Circuit,  to  visit  the 
people.  I  felt  some  fear  in  the  dear  good  man's  company  ; 
but  it  soon  wore  off,  as  we  went  from  house  to  house,  praying 
with  the  people.  Bro.  Hersey  would  speak  very  plainly, 
but  kindly,  to  all  the  people  in  the  house;  inquire  how 
their  souls  prospered,  &c. 

I  was  told  by  the  friends  in  Beaver  Dam,  that  while  he 

was  stopping  at  the  house  of  Dr.  B. ,  he  requested  Mrs. 

B to  order  the  servants  to  take  off  the  feather  bed  and 

give  him  a  hard  straw  bed  to  sleep  on  ;  the  room  was  very 
large,  and  two  double  bedsteads  were  in  it.  Rev.  Geo. 
Barton  was  sleeping  in  one,  and  felt  provoked  at  Father 
Hersey  for  putting  the  friends  to  so  much"  trouble ;  especial- 
ly as  the  night  was  bitter  cold.  But  enjoying  his  feather 
bed  and  ample  clothing  he  soon  fell  asleep.  About  midnight, 

Father  Hersey  aroused  brother  B out  of  a  deep  sleep, 

asking  the  privilege  of  sleeping  in  bed  with  him,  because  he 

was  so  cold ;  at  first  brother  B refused,  but  after  the 

most    earnest    entreaty,    he   granted   the   request      In   the 

morning   Bro.    B spoke   of  the   matter,    and   censured 

Bro.  H —  —  for  his  course ;  the  subject  being  an  unpleasant 
one,  it  was  dismissed. 

Dr.  B and  family,    ever   sought   to   make    Methodist 

preachers  happy  ;  it  was  a  home  indeed  for  the  weary  itiner- 
ant. Father  Ilerscy  was  watchful  for  his  brethren,  and  when 
opportunity  offered,  was  not  slow  to  censure,  or  reprimand 

them.     Rev.  N.  W ,  of  Chestertown,  Md.,  always  gave 

Father  Hersey  a  cordial  welcome,  but  the  dear  good  man 
was  just  as  faithful  with  those  who  treated  him  with  marked 
attention  as  those  who  regarded  him  with  disdain.  Bro. 


78  SKETCH  OF 

W having   purchased   for   his   daughter   a  piano,   was 

severely  censured  for  the  act,  and  caused  no  little  stir  in  the 
house  by  his  repeated  reference  to  the  spirit  of  worldliness 
that  was  creeping  into  the  church,  and  even  among  those 

who  stood  at  the  head  of  affairs.      Bro.  "W determined 

to  avoid  unpleasantness,    and    made    no   reply ;  but   several 

months  after,  Father  Hersey  wrote  to  Bro.  W to  meet 

him  at  the  boat  from  Baltimore,  at  a  given  time  ;  Bro.  W 

awaited  the  arrival  of  his  guest,  but  before  allowing  him  to 
enter  his  house,  he  said :  "Bro.  Hersey,  I  don't  want  to  sub- 
ject you  to  any  unpleasantness,  or  embarrass  you  as  to  your 
surroundings,  but  least  you  may  feel  at  liberty  to  administer 
reproof  to  me  in  the  presence  of  my  family,  I  wish  to  inform 
you  before  you  enter  the  house,  that  I  have  purchased  for  my 
daughter,  a  new  suit  of  furniture  of  a  new  pattern,  and 
which  I  regard  as  very  good ;  this  furniture  is  in  the  room  I 
have  set  apart  for  your  use,  during  your  stay  in  Chestertown; 
now,  if  this  is  displeasing  to  you,  and  will  cause  you  unhappi- 
ness,  I  must  prefer  that  you  seek  other  quarters  ;  but  if  you 
are  willing  to  accept  what  I  have,  without  remarks  of  a  dis- 
agreeable~sort,  no  one  can  give  you  a  more  cordial  welcome." 

Father  Hersey  made  his  home  with  Bro.   W ever   after 

when  he  came  to  the  town,  and  always  abstained  from  re- 
marks of  the  sort  referred  to. 

I  was  invited  to  take  tea  with  Father  Hersey  in  company 
with  several  other  Methodists,  at  the  house  of  Bro.  Sherwood, 
in  Milford.  The  godly  man  was  in  one  of  his  happiest 
moods,  and  gave  us  his  views  on  various  subjects,  greatly  to 
our  edification  and  profit,  for  every  one  honored  and  rever- 
ed him.  Some  one  remarked,  that  his  was  a  singular  life 
for  him  to  lead,  constantly  on  the  wing,  always  separating 
from  friends,  and  that  if  he  made  friends,  he  had  but  little 
time  to  test  them.  Oh  !  said  he,  "perhaps  that  is  best ;  for 
one  of  my  oldest  friends  has  given  me  the  greatest  trouble, 
and  especially  at  a  time  when  I  most  needed  him  ;  we  lived 
together  for  years  and  years  in  the  same  house,  we  slept  to- 
gether ;  indeed  I  may  say  that  for  years  he  was  with  me  by 
night  and  by  day;  the  more  I  felt  the  necessity  of  his  friend- 
ly offices,  the  more  he  complained ;  indeed  matters  grew  so 
serious  that  there  was  no  living  in  peace  with  him.  I  tried 
my  utmost  to  soften  his  merciless  complainings  ;  I  threatened 
if  he  did  not  desist,  I  would  resort  to  extreme  measures. 


JOHN  HERSEY.  79 

The  neighbors  began  to  notice  the  effects  of  our  mutual 
struggle  ;  at  last  I  could  not  bear  it  any  longer;  true,  he  was 
almost  the  last  of  a  company  of  friends  I  had,  still  I  said 
look  at  my  disfigured  face,  it  tells  a  story  that  no  words  of 
mine  need  express,  and  if  I  were  to  tempt  it,  I  could  not,  for 
the  pain  it  gave  me,  to  think  of  parting,  and  the  cruel  treat- 
ment I  had  received  from  him,  still,  I  consoled  myself  with 
the  reflections,  that  for  fifty  years  and  more,  there  had  never 
been  a  disturbing  thought ;  perfect  peace  and  good  feeling 
between  us.  Dear  friends,  I  assure  you  it  was  no  trifling 
matter,  for  two  such  old  friends  after  so  many  years  of  inti- 
mate friendship,  to  part,  and  that  to,  by  the  most  violent 
means." 

The  whole  party  deeply  sympathised  with  the  dear  good 
man,  and  were  commenting  upon  the  wickedness  of  so  un- 
grateful a  friend,  who  would  thus  turn  against  one  who  they 
knew  to  be  so  good  and  holy  a  man,  and  were  about  to  re- 
quest the  name  of  the  wretch,  whence  he  opened  his  mouth 
and  showed  the  place  from  whence  an  old  stump  of  a  tooth 
had  been  drawn  out. 

He  once  reprimanded  Bro.  TV for  allowing  a  servant 

to  chop  some  kindling  wood  early  one  Sabbath  morning  ;  Mr. 
TV—  —  said,  "It  was  against  my  express  orders,  but  I  don't 
think  it  was  any  worse  than  selling  books  on  Sunday ;" 
Father  Hersey  said,  "It  shall  never  be  said  of  me  again  that  I 
sold  books  on  Sunday." 

On  entering  the  mansion  of  a  lady  in  Virginia,  which  had 
been  beautifully  furnished  with  pier  glass  and  rich  tapes- 
try and  elegant  furniture,  he  raised  his  hands  in  holy  horror, 
and  stepping  back  from  the  parlor  door,  he  said:  "Sister! 
sister !  do  you  expect  to  take  these  things  to  heaven."  The 
sister  replied,  "Why  Bro.  Hersey,  you  surprise  me,  I  take 
such  mean  stuff  as  this  to  heaven,  never !  Golden  payed 
streets,  jasper  walls  and  pearly  gates  would  so  outshine  such 
trash  as  this,  that  I  would  be  ashamed  to  have  it  about;  no 
indeed,  I  never  thought  of  taking  it  to  heaven."  The  dear 
old  man  had  nothing  to  say  to  her  reply. 

He  used  to  rise  at  midnight  to  pray,  greatly  to  the  annoy- 
ance of  his  brethren  who  slept  in  the  preachers'  tent.  One  of 
them  said  :  "Father  Hersey,  I  really  think  your  course  is  dam- 
aging to  religion  rather  than  a  help  to  it,  for  it  seems  that  you 


80  SKETCH  OF 

cannot  trust  God  for  one  whole  night,  but  rise  at  midnight, 
to  ask  God  to  keep  you  for  the  remainder  of  the  night-  Why 
said  the  brother  I  can  say  my  prayer,  go  asleep  and  never 
wake  until  morning.  I  can  trust  God^for  a  whole  night." 
"So  can  I,"  said  he,  "But  I  cannot  trust  myself,  I  want  to 
keep  very  near  Jesus." 

When  in  Philadelphia  the  last  time,  he  called  upon  and 
tarried  with  several  of  his  old  friends,  among  thein  was  dear 
Bro.  Solomon  Townsend,  who  lived  in  fine  style  on  one  of 
the  principal  streets.  He  enjoyed  his  hospitalities;  but  when 
he  came  to  Rev.  S.  W.  Thomas'  to  stay  a  short  time,  he  remark- 
ed "Bro.  Townsend,  I  think  does  very  wrong  to  keep 
two  girls  to  serve  his  family,  when  he  has  daughters  well 
able  to  do  the  work."  Mrs.  Thomas  said,  "Father  Hersey,  I 
think  you  do  very  wrong  in  censuring  them,  for  you  must 
see  that  they  are  doing  a  great  service  to  these  young  women; 
they  are  fully  able  to  keep  two  girls,  and  thus  give  them  a 
good  home,  and  enable  them  to  procure  an  honest  and  honor- 
able livelihood.  Just  think  of  the  good  Bro.  Townsend  is 
'doing,  and  I  think  you  will  not  find  fault."  The  dear  old 
gentlemen  leaned  back  from  the  table  and  paused  for  a 
moment,  seemed  to  be  thinking  seriously  about  what  had 
been  said  ;  then  resuming  the  conversation,  he  remarked, 
•"Sister  Maggie,  my  dear  child,  I  am  sorry  I  said  what  I  did 
about  Bro.  Towusend ;  I  thank  you  for  your  suggesting 
another  view  of  the  matter,  and  I  fully  subscribe  to  it." 

It  is  generally  known  that  he  failed  in  business,  and  that 
his  economical  habits  grew  out  of  his  purpose  to  save  every 
cent,  until  his  debts  were  paid.  The  last  debt  that  remained 
unpaid,  was  due  to  Garret  &  Co.,  Snuff  manufacturers,  in 
Philadelphia.  Having  gathered  the  amount  due,  both  princi- 
pal and  interest,  he  found  their  place  of  business :  years  had 
elapsed  since  the  debt  had  been  contracted  and  the  account 
had  been  charged  off  to  profit  and  loss,  or  if  not,  was  regard- 
ed as  a  suspended  debt.  When  Father  Hersey  called,  and 
asked  for  a  bill,  they  said  they  had  no  knowledge  of  such  an 
account,  and  enquired  as  to  the  time  when  the  debt  was 
made;  he  told  them,  and  they  answered  let  it  go,  the  books 
have  been  closed  long  ago,  and  we  know  enough  about  you, 
to  know  that  you  need  the  money  more  than  we.  ''Oh  no,"  said 
Father  Hersey,  '  'I  have  paid  everybody  but  you,  and  left  yours 
because  I  thought  it  was  for  the  most  useless  articles,  but  I 


JOHN  HERSEY.  81 

must  pay  principal  and  interest,"  and  he  did,  at  least  I  am 
so  informed. 

I  asked  him  if  he  thought  other  persons  ought  to  dress 
and  live  like  he  did.  "No"  said  he,  "I  would  not  have  others. 
to  follow  my  example  in  my  manner  of  dress.  My  necessi- 
ties first  required  me  to  save  all  I  could,  and  after  the 
necessities  did  not  exist,  I  was  perfectly  contented  with  my 
way  of  dressing,  and  should  not  have  been  happy  had  I 
changed  it.  Still  I  think  Christians  ought  to  be  simple  and 
plain  in  their  way  of  dressing.  It  is  a  grief  to  me  to  see 
the  flowers  in  the  sisters'  bonnets,  and  the  jewelry  they  wear; 
it  is  not,  in  my  judgment,  in  harmony  with  their  profession." 

A  FRIEND  WRITES  : 

"In  answer  to  your  inquiry  concerning  my  personal  recol- 
lections of  the  Rev.  John  Hersey,  I  enjoyed  the  pleasure  of 
his  acquaintance,  and  ever  esteemed  it  a  privilege  to  'enjoy 
his  company. 

On  one  occasion  at  a  camp  meeting  held  at  Bacon  Hill, 
Cecil  County,  Md.,  he  narrated  to  us  how  ready  the  laity 
were  to  go  off  into  exaltation,  whilst  he  was  exhorting  in  one 
of  the  large  tents,  but  when  I  brought  the  law  home  to  them 
they  all  'dried  up.'  The  punctilious  life  observed  by  Father 
Hersey  was  often  criticised,  but  though  his  "eccentricities" 
as  the  people  used  to  call  them,  were  often  subject  to  severe 
criticism,  yet  we  never  knew  his  piety  to  be  brought  in 
question. 

We  were  rambling  through  Tide-water,  Virginia,  just  be- 
fore the  late  civil  strife,  and  put  up  with  a  thrifty  farmer 
over  Sunday ;  among  other  subjects  which  engaged  our 
conversation,  was  a  recent  visit  of  Father  Hersey,  to  that 
neighborhood.  He  had  refused  to  eat  wheat  bread,  while  a 
guest  of  this  old  planter,  and  on  being  interrogated  for  not 
eating  wheat  bread,  his  reply  was,  "I  will  not  eat  of  it  until 
all  my  Father's  children  can  partake  alike  with  me  of  it." 
The  venerable  man  was  known  and  respected;  perhaps  no 
one  had  more  sublime  influence  as  a  gospel  minister  than  he.. 

During  a  visit  to  Fluvanna,  Va.,  it  was  announced  he 
would  preach  on  the  Sabbath  of  his  sojourn.  As  might  be 
expected,  the  announcement  brought  out  a  large  concourse 
of  people  ;  when  the  service  was  over,  a  prominent  man  of 


82  SKETCH  OF 

the  district,  who  had  rode  some  distance  to  hear  the  sermon, 
was  asked  what  he  thought  of  Father  Hersey — he  is  credited 
with  saying — ''If  that  is  the  gospel,  heaven  will  be  thinly 
populated." 

The  frailty  of  human  imperfection,  beheld  its  own  dwarfed 

insignificance  by  a  contrast  with  his  perfect  life,  and  we  have 

ever  thought  the  censoriousness  of  his  critics,   was    more   to 

.hide  their  own  folly,  than  to   carp   at  his  blameless,  spotless 

life." 

Father  Hersey  on  one  occasion  preached  at  Franklin  St. 
M.  E.  Church,  at  11  o'clock  ;  Rev.  Bro.  B.  had  an  appoint- 
ment in  the  country,  at  Ridge  Chapel,  at  3  o'clock,  and  in- 
vited Father  Hersey  to  accompany  him,  which  he  did,  and 
preached,  and  walked  back  to  the  city,  and  preached  at 

night  at  Strawbridge  ;  at  this  time  Bro  B was  very  fond 

of  his  Cavendish  ;  Father    Hersey  was  equally  as  great  an 

enemy.     Bro.  B was  well   supplied  with   the   weed  for 

the  journey,  but  when  the  sermon  ended  and  they  left  the 
house  of  God,  to  the  great  annoyance  of  Bro.  B un- 
known to  Father  Hersey,  he  happened  to  lock  arms  en  the  side 
where  the  plug  was  deposited  ;  the  supply  was  cut  off;  those 
who  use  the  article,  and  knew  Father  Hersey's  hatred  to  the 
same,  can  realize  the  situation  Bro.  B was  in. 

Father  Hersey,  on  the  subject  of  colonization  to  Africa,  in 
the  second  edition  of  his  book,  published  by  Armstrong  &  Plas- 
kit,  in  1833,  writes  : 

"An  experiment  has  been  made  which  more  than  realizes 
the  expectations  of  its  friends.  The  colony  which  has  been  set- 
tled at  Liberia,  on  the  shores  of  Africa,  is  in  a  more  nourish- 
ing condition  than  any  new  settlement  of  the  same  nature  and 
age  ever  before  made  in  any  part  of  the  world ;  our  own  coun- 
try, the  United  States,  in  their  progress;  in  the  increase  of  their 
population  ;  their  improvement  in  the  arts  and  sciences ;  in  the 
diffusion  of  Christian  knowledge,  stands  without  a  paralled  on 
the  page  of  history ;  yet,  in  their  origin,  in  the  dawn  of  their 
existence,  this  powerful  independent  nation  was  far  less  sue 
cessful  than  has  been  the  little  vine  planted  at  Liberia.  The 
first  settlers  reached  the  shores  of  Africa,  in  June,  1822;  they 
are  now  in  a  prosperous  condition  ;  three  churches  have  already 
been  erected ;  several  schools  are  in  successful  operation  ;  they 


JOHN  HEKSEY.  83 

have  a  newspaper,  conducted  by  a  colored  man.  Many  of  the 
new  settlers  are  becoming  wealthy ;  the  population  numbers 
about  three  thousand  souls  ;  they  are  extending  their  territory 
along  the  shores  of  the  Atlantic ;  also,  into  the  interior, 
among  the  natives,  with  whom  they  are  on  friendly  terms,  and 
highly  respected  by  the  savages. 

The  whole  amount  of  money  received  by  the  Colonization 
Society  up  to  the  20th  of  June  1832,  is  $155,912.52  ;  with 
this  small  sum  of  money,  a  new  world  has  been  purchased — a 
new  nation  has  been  settled,  and  the  prejudice  of  thousands 
respecting  the  colonizing  our  slaves  in  Africa  has  been  wiped 
out.  Surely  never  before  was  the  same  amount  of  money, 
so  judiciously  expended  " 

Rev.  J.  Pasterfield,  Philadelphia  Conference,  writes  : 

Shenandoah,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  Dec.  31st,  1878. 

DEAR  BRO.  MARINE  : 

Yours  of  28th  inst.  is  at  hand.  In  response,  would 
say,  that  concerning  the  memory  of  Rev.  John  Hersey,  I 
have  many  hallowed  recollections ;  was  with  him  in  his  last 
sickness,  and  officiated  as  one  of  the  speakers  at  his  funeral. 

Before  I  mention  my  last  meeting  with  him,  I  wish  to 
speak  of  some  personal  interviews,  when  in  health. 

I  remember  on  one  occasion  we  roomed  together  in  Dor- 
chester county,  Maryland  ;  next  morning,  he  was  up  at  four 
o'clock,  bathing  in  cold  water,  and  rubbing  briskly  with  a 
coarse  towel ;  then  he  prayed  ferverently  for  one  hour  ;  then 
he  opened  the  Bible  on  a  chair,  and  knelt  and  read  and  pray- 
ed until  day.  He  was  very  abstemious  in  his  diet.  He 
always  spoke  humbly  of  his  spiritual  attainments.  His  was 
not  a  boastful  piety,  it  was  rather  of  the  Apostolic  type. 

In  my  diary  of  Sept.  23d,  1853,  I  find  the  following 
entry:  "I  have  just  had  an  interview  with  Bro.  Hersey — 
a  man  of  God ;  he  preached  for  me  at  Beckwith's,  last 
Wednesday  night,  from  these  words :  'I  have  seen  the  wick- 
ed in  great  power,  &c."  It  was  a  solemn  sermon.  God 
bless  the  preacher,  and  give  him  success.  He  is  the  plainest 
man  and  preacher  I  ever  knew.  0  Lord  help  me  to  follow 
them,  who  through  faith  and  patience  inherit  the  promises." 

The  above  interview  and  preaching  was  in  Dorchester 
county,  Maryland,  September  23rd,  1853. 


84  SKETCH     OF 

My  wife  speaks  of  an  incident,  that  occurred  some  years 
after  this  in  Talbot  County,  Md.,  at  a  place  called  Royal 
•Oak  ;  he  had  just  preached,  and  my  wife  said  to  him,  "Bro. 
Hersey,  where  are  you  going?"  "Going  to  heaven"  was  the 
reply,  with  a  smile.  He  afterwards  told  her  where  he 
would  sojourn ;  this,  however,  was  characteristic  of  him, 
and  showed  the  bent  of  his  mind. 

He  died  at  Penningtonville,  Pa.,  in  1862;  and  summing 
up  the  "Greenspots"  of  the  year  1862,  I  find  this  entry  in 
my  diary  :  "The  aged  Father  in  God,  Ilev.  John  Hersey 
passed  away  this  year,  and  I  was  at  his  funeral,  at  his  re- 
quest, as  one  of  the  speakers.  He  is  buried  in  the  grave- 
yard of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  at  Penningtonville, 
Lancaster  County,  Pa. 

In  an  interview,  I  had  with  him  just  before  his  death,  the 
following  testimonials  he  spoke — "One  thing  I  regret — I  have 
not  been  charitable  enough  to  my  fellow  men.  I  have 
accused  them  of  excess  in  eating,  and  I  am  dying  with  dys- 
pepsia." After  I  prayed  with  him,  he  exclamed,  "Victory  ! 
Victory  !!  Victory  over  self!!!"  And  if  any  man  ever  had  vic- 
tory over  ^elf,  he  had.  Peace  to  his  memory.  May  we  fol- 
low him,  as  he  followed  Christ. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

CITY  MISSION  IN  1853. 

Father  Hersey's  field  of  labor  was  so  extensive,  and  his 
time  so  fully  occupied,  during  his  earlier  ministerial  life, 
that  his  views  are  not  preserved  to  us  as  copiously,  as  during 
the  last  ten  years  in  the  cause  of  his  Master ;  advancing 
years  forced  him,  in  order  to  have  an  interchange  of  views 
-with  distant  friends,  to  resort  to  the  pen  ;  thereby  fortunate- 
ly preserving  his  matured  thought  in  ample  expression — 
with  a  rich  and  varied  experience,  coupled  with  a  thorough 
and  sublime  faith  ;  he  kept  a  brief  record  of  passing  events, 
of  which  fragmentary  portions  are  only  obtainable. 

During  the  year  1853,    while   laboring   in    Baltimore   as 


JOHN  HERSEY.  85 

City  Missionary,  near  the  corner  of  Light  and  Winder 
streets ;  he  had  built  a  chapel,  which  was  paid  out  of  his  own 
resources,  and  by  him  free  of  all  charges,  presented  to  the 
board  of  trustees  of  the  William  Street  M.  E.  Church  ;  they 
accepted  of  the  gift,  and  in  honor  of  the  donor,  it  was  called 
"Hersey  Chapel."  Modern  innovationists,  who  are  every 
now  and  then,  leveling  some  old  land-marks,  have  caused 
this  temple  to  disappear ;  but  it  was  dedicated  with  due 
religious  ceremonies.  On  Sunday,  May  1st,  Bishop  Waugh 
preached  in  the  forenoon  at  11  o'clock  a  fine  discourse,  from 
John,  3rd  chap.,  16  vers»;  in  the  afternoon  at  4  o'clock, 
Father  Hersey  powerfully  held  forth,  basing  his  remarks  on. 
the  24th  verse  of  the  20th  chap,  of  Exodus  ;  in  the  evening 
at  8  o'clock,  that  most  estimable  and  useful  local  preacher,  Isaac 
P.  Cook,  preached  from  Isaiah,  o6th  chap.,  7th  verse. 

Father  Hersey  in  writing  of  this  circumstance,  says: 
''May  this  temple  be  accepted  of  God,  and  rendered  useful  to 
the  people,  for  Christ's  sake.  Amen." 

All  through  this  year,  Father  Hersey  worked  with  unaba- 
ted and  enthusiastic  zeal ;  he  also  caused  to  be  built  one  other 
chapel,  for  colored  worshippers,  on  Biddle  alley;  avoiding 
ostentation  and  in  a  spirit  of  meekness,  (although  his  means 
wrought  the  work.)  The  transfer  of  title  to  those  for  whom 
the  edifice  was  intended,  was  made  in  the  name  of  the  llev. 
Joshua  Wells  to  the  trustees  of  the  Orchard  Street  M.  E. 
Church,  his  name  no  where  appearing.  This  chapel  yet 
stands  a  monument  to  his  modesty  and  honor.  By  this,  and 
many  other  benefactions,  he  endeared  himself  to  the  colored 
people,  and  the  old  generation  that  is  passing  away,  hold 
his  name  and  memory  in  enduring  remembrance. 

When  the  writer  was  gathering  together  material  for  this 
sketch,  he  chanced  to  pass  an  old  venerable  colored  woman 
upon  the  street,  a  presentment  that  she  might  impart  some 
information,  caused  him  to  address  her,  when  the  following 
colloquy  occurred  :  "Aunty,  did  you  know  Father  Hersey  ?" 
La  me,  /know  Father  Hersey  ?  Yes  away  back,  honey,  when 
"he  preached  at  a  camp  meeting  from  the  text — "Righteous- 
ness exalteth  a  nation,  but  sin  is  a  reproach  to  any  people." 
O,  but  he  did  preach.  I  knew  Father  Hersey — he  has  eat 
many  a  meal  in  my  house  ;  why,  he  built  us  a  church  in 
Biddle  alley,  and  the  colored  people  purchased  him  a  house, 


86  SKETCH  OF 

but  he  refused  its  acceptance,  because,  he  said,  if  he  took  it, 
he  couldn't  sing  the  hymn  : — 

The  things  eternal  I  pursue, 
A  happiness  beyond  the  view 

Of  those  that  basely  pant, 
For  things  by  nature  felt  and  seen, 
Their  honors,  wealth  and  pleasures  mean, 

I  neither  have,  nor  want. 

I  have  no  babes  to  hold  me  here  ; 
But  children  more  securely  dear 

For  mine  I  humbly  claim, 
Better  than  daughters,  pr  than  sons, 
Temples  divine,  of  living  stones, 

Inscribed  ivith  Jesus'  name. 

No  foot  of  land  do  I  possess ; 
No  cottage  in  this  wilderness  ; 

A  poor  way-faring  man, 
I  lodge  awhile  in  tents  below, 
Or  gladly  wander  to  and  fro, 

Till  I  my   Canaan  gain. 

Nothing  on  earth  I  call  my  own, 
A  stranger  to  the  world  unknown, 

I  all  their  goods  despise, 
I  trample  on  their  whole  delight, 
And  seek  a  city  out  of  sight, 

A  city  in  the   skies. 

The  old  lady  was  in  ecstacy,  when  told  that  a  sketch  of 
Father  Hersey  was  preparing  for  publication,  and  said,  "I 
want  that  book."  During  our  talk,  she  informed  me,  she 
was  102  years  of  age. 

There  was  a  most  remarkable  and  marvelous  cure,  in 
answer  to  Father  Hersey's  faith  and  prayer,  this  year,  which 

took  place  at  the  home  of  his  friend  W .    Father  Hersey 

writes,  Saturday,  July  30th  : 

Called   to    see    Bro.    W 's   family,    who    are    deeply 

afflicted  ;  their  little  son  seven  years  old,  the  last  time  I  was 
there,  had  lost  the  use  of  his  lower  extremities,  both  feet 
and  legs;  the  doctor  said  he  never  would  recover.  I  prayed 
with  the  family  and  for  him  ;  he  arose  and  threw  away  his 
crutches,  and  walked  as  usual.  The  boy  thus  cured  by  faith 
and  prayer  offered  up  to  God,  by  Father  Hersey,  is  no  less  a 
person  than  the  Rev.  James  P.  Wilson,  of  the  Baltimore 
Conference,  who  is  now  stationed  at  Frostburg,  Md.  He 


JOHN  HERSEY  87 

inforraed  the  writer   at   Conference   in    March   last,    of  this 
marvelous  cure. 

In  1854  Father  Hersey  traveled  much,  and  during  the 
year  visited  the  scenes  of  his  childhood  ;  we  hear  of  him 
preaching  at  Red  line  Camp  Meeting,  near  Elkton,  Md., 
and  other  places  ;  his  sermons  were  vivid  and  impressive, 
heightened  no  doubt  in  their  intensity  by  his  mental  retro- 
spections of  other  days. 

In  1855  he  was  employed  as  Junior  preacher  on  West 
Harford  Circuit,  Md.,  by  the  Presiding  Elder  as  assistant  to 
the  Rev.  F.  McCartney. 

In  the  Spring  of  1856,  after  a  short  stay  in  Baltimore,  he 
visited  Philadelphia,  also  Cincinnati,  and  attended  the  Gen- 
eral Conference  in  Indianapolis. '  He  returned  to  Baltimore 
in  June  ;  in  the  Spring  of  this  year  as  he  jocosely  told  Bro. 
Reese,  he  was  appointed  by  the  P.  E.  young  preacher  on 
Cochranville  Circuit,  Chester  Co.,  Pa.  ;  at  this  time  he  was 
seventy  years  of  age  :  on  this  circuit  he  proved  very  efficient ; 
doing  a  good  work,  and  endearing  himself  to  its  people. 

He  was  in  Baltimore  a  part  of  the  year  1857.  In  1858, 
he  visited  New  York,  and  paid  off  a  debt,  contracted  when  a 
wholesale  merchant  in  the  District  of  Columbia,  and  thereaf- 
ter returned  to  Baltimore,  in  May,  1858.  He  visited 
Staunton,  Va.,  in  1859,  and  other  points  in  the  South, 
accompanied  by  a  friend,  who  paid  the  expenses  of  the  trip. 

We  hear  of  him  in  Greensboro,  Ala.,  December,  1859;  in 
Jackson,  Tenn,  1860.  During  this  time  he  made  an  exten- 
sive tour  through  the  South  and  West,  visiting  the  places  of 
his  earlier  days ;  he  returned  home  in  1861.  From  that 
time  to  the  closing  up  of  his  mortal  career,  was  spent  his 
most  anxious  years  ;  he  had  a  presentment  that  his  days  were 
rapidly  drawing  to  a  close  ;  he  had  more  work  than  time  to 
perform  it  in  ;  he  pressed  with  vigor  on,  until  at  last  the 
weary  wheels  of  nature  ceased  to  roll,  and  we  hear  him  say, 
the  Master  is  about  to  call  rue  home,  and  I  have  no  objection 
to  go. 

Sainted  man  of  God,  how  grandly  comes  the  close  of  thy 
life's  day ;  your  work  is  all  well  done  ;  no  more  will  you 
tread  the  dusty  road  afoot  in  the  Master's  cause,  no  more 
will  the  hail  and  snow  of  winter  encrust  thy  locks  and  beat 


88  SKETCH  OF 

against  thy  brow.  Your  sacrifices  are  all  made  ;  your  re- 
ward is  at  hand. — "Mark  the  perfect  man,  behold  the  up- 
right, for  the  end  of  that  man  is  peace." 

Father  Hersey  during  these  years,  made  his  home  with  his 
kind  and  benevolent  friends,  Bro.  William  Welsh  and  lady, 
who  resided  at  142  Pearl  street,  where  he  always  found  a 
kind,  welcome  and  hospitable  home. 

Good  sister  Welsh  fitted  up  to  this  patriarch's  liking,  a 
room  in  their  home,  which  was  always  known  as  Father 
Hersey's  room,  and  no  one  was  allowed  to  occupy  this  room 
but  he  whom  it  was  set  apart  for,  and  to  which  he  had  all 
his  correspondence  directed  ;  and  this  was  the  home  to 
which  he  bent  his  steps  after  his  toilsome  journey  ended , 
where  he  would  recount  to  sister  Welsh  his  sorrows  and 
triumphs. 

I  shall  not  soon  forget  my  first  interview  with  this  dear 
aged  sister  and  former  friend  of  Father  Hersey.  I  called  to 
see  her  for  scraps  of  information  ;  although  for  years  a  child 
of  severe  affliction,  at  the  mention  of  her  old  friend  Kersey's- 
name,  she  had  to  be  taken  out  of  bed  and  sat  by  my  side,, 
and  said  she  "The  dear  old  man,  I  did  love  him  ;  he  would 
when  he  came  home,  tell  me  about  his  journeyings,  especial- 
ly his  trip  to  Africa,,  his  mdian  agency,  his  business  failure, 
and  in  different  places  where  he  traveled,  but  I  cannot 
remember  now  particulars,  only  when  he  was  leaving  my 
house  for  Pennsylvania  to  die ;  I  shall  never  forget  the 
parting  :  it  was  and  will  be  memorable  long  as  life  lasts  ;  he 
handed  me  a  few  dollars,  which  he  said,  he  had  drawn  from 
the  savings  institution,  and  wished  me  to  apply  it  for  him,  to 
his  Lord's  poor,  for  whom  he  had  spent  his  life  in  their  ser- 
vice, which  I  did  as  he  directed,  ("precious  man,"  she  added,) 
and  he  took  his  departure  for  Pennsylvania  where  he  died." 
Brother  and  sister  Welsh  expects  soon  to  have  a  reunion 
with  Father  Hersey  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  They  were 
not  forgotten  by  him  in  his  last  hours,  for  he  directed  Bro. 
Reese,  after  his  death,  not  before,  to  correspond  with  his  old 
friends,  and  let  them  know  he  had  passed  over  safely  to  the 
shining  shore.  Bro.  Welsh  kindly  furnished  me  the  letter, 
which  is  to  be  found  in  this  volume,  to  which  the  reader  is 
referred. 


JOHN  HERSEY. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

LETTEKS  FROM  MINISTERS. 

We  have  in  our  possession  many  letters  from  ministerial 
and  other  friends,  which,  whilst  not  properly  a  part  of  the 
biography  of  Father  Hersey,  still,  coining  from  those  inti- 
mately acquainted  with  the  departed  saint,  cannot  but  possess 
a  fascination  to  the  general  reader.  The  poetry  which  intro- 
duces the  letters,  was  held  by  Bro.  Hersey  in  kind  remem- 
brance ;  he  carried  them  with  him  on  his  evangelistic  tours, 
distributed  them  wher  eever  he  went,  wrote  them  in  his  book  of 
prayer,  and  this  copy  was  found  among  his  effects  after 
death  ;  we  here  insert  it,  as  applicable  to  his  own  state  of 
mind.  He  writes  in  his  book  on  prayer: 

"Madame  Guyon  was  imprisoned  about  ten  years  in  the 
Bastile  and  other  French  prisons.  During  this  period  she 
employed  herself  chiefly  in  writing  her  life ;  four  volumes  of 
poems  and  other  writings,  were  the  result ;  the  following  is 
a  translation  of  one  of  her  poerng,  it  illustrates  her  state  of 
mind  in  her  affliction." 

SENTIMENTS 

WRITTEN  BY 

Madame  Guyon  in. Prison. 


A  little  bird  I  am, 

Shut  from  the  fields  of  air  ; 
And  in  my  cage  I  sit  and  sing 

To  Him  who  placed  me  there  ; 
Well  pleased  a  prisoner  to  be, 
Because,  my  God,  it  pleases  Thee  ! 

Nought  else  have  I  to  do; 

I  sing  the  whole  day  long, 
And  He,  whom  most  I  love  to  please, 

Doth  listen  to  my  song; 
He  caught  and  bound  my  wandering  wing, 
But  still  he  bends  to  hear  me  sing. 

Thou  hast  an  ear  to  hear ; 
A  heart  to  love  and  bless  ; 


90  SKETCH  OF 

And  though  my  notes  were  e'er  so  rude, 

Thou  wouldst  not  hear  the  less ; 
Because  thou  knowest  as  they  fall, 
That  love,  sweet  love  inspires  them  all. 

My  cage  confines  me  round, 

Abroad  I  cannot  fly  ; 
But  though  my  wing  is  closely  bound, 

My  heart's  at  liberty. 
My  prison  walls  cannot  control 
The  flight,  the  freedom  of  the  soul. 

O,  it  is  good  to  soar 

These  bolts  and  bars  above, 

To  Him  whose  purpose  I  adore, 
Whose  providence  I  love  ; 

And  in  thy  mighty  will  to  find 

The  joy,  the  freedom  of  the  mind. 

Father  Herscy  out  West.. 

Rev.  Dr.  D.  R.  McAnally,  Editor  of  the  ST.  Louis  CHRIS- 
TIAN ADVOCATE,  publishes  the  following,  which  we  copy 
from  that  paper  of  October  15th,  1879. 

"A  book  is  in  press,  entitled,  'A  Sketch  of  the  life  of 
Rev.  John  Hersey,  by  Rev.  Fletcher  E.  Marine,'  a  local 
preacher  of  this  city.  Mr.  Editor,  did  you  ever  know  the 
pious  and  eccentric  John  Hersey  ?  He  travelled  extensively 
through  the  Middle  States,  and  even  in  the  Southern  States, 
Breaching  and  warning  the  people  constantly,  everywhere  he 
went,  for  42  years.  He  generally  traveled  on  foot.  He 
wore  the  plainest  clothes,  and  lived  on  the  simplest,  coarsest 
fare.  He  was  a  great  friend  to  the  poor,  in  visiting  and 
giving  largely  to  their  relief.  He  was  a  very  prayerful  man, 
and  intelligent  preacher.  He  died  in  1862,  aged  76  years. 
Mr.  editor,  you  can  use  this  communication  as  you  please. 
God  bless  you  and  the  ST.  Louis  CHRISTIAN  ADVOCATE." 

W.  R.  MONROE,  M.  D. 

Baltimore,  Oct.  4th,  1879. 

Dr.  McAnally  editorially  replies  as  follows  : 

"It  was  my  pleasure  to  know  the  Rev.  John  Hersey 
quite  well.  First  met  him  at  a  Conference  in  Virginia,  in. 
1832.  In  1861  he  was  here  in  the  West,  frequently  in  my 
office,  and  at  my  house,  and  to-day,  I  have  a  grateful  recollec- 
tion of  his  prayers  for  me  and  my  family,  offered  at  our  own 


JOHN  HERSEY.  91 

fire-side.  A  wonderful  man,  not  so  very  eccentric  after  all,  ra- 
ther straightforward,  pure  in  his  purposes  and  true  as  steel  to 
his  convictions.  Notwithstanding  a  dash  of  eccentricity  that 
seemed  to  be  mixed  in  his  nature,  he  seemed  to  live  as  near 
to  the  Divine  Master  as  any  man  I  ever  knew.  In  my  library 
are  copies  of  several  books  and  tracts,  he  caused  to  be  published 
'more  than  40  years  ago  ;  and  I  shall  look  for  the  forthcom- 
ing sketches  with  more  than  ordinary  interest." 

Believe  me,  dear  sir,  yours  truly, 

ED.  ADVOCATE. 

Letter  of  Rev.  L,  Scott,  Bishop  of  the  M.  E.  Church, 
whom  I  had  hoped  would  have  written  the  preface  to  the 
book  ;  he  writes  me, 

Odessa,  September  KM,  1879. 

F   E.  MARINE,  Esq. — Dear  Brother  : 

"Yours  of  3rd  inst  ,  is  before  me.  It  is  quite  out  of  the 
question  for  me  to  comply  with  your  wishes ;  I  am  already 
overburdened,  and  having  great  difficulty  in  writing  at  all, 
owing  to  the  almost  entire  failure  of  my  sight.  I  wish  you 
success  in  your  undertaking,  and  want  a  copy  of  your  work 
when  it  is  published.  I  knew  Bro.  Hersey  long  and  tolera- 
bly well,  but  never  intimately.  I  saw  him  frequently  and 
heard  him  preach  several  times.  He  was  a  good,  but  eccen- 
tric man ;  many  doubtless,  will  rise  up  and  call  him  blessed. 

He"  is  now  far  above  the  praise  or  blame  of  men. 
Very  truly, 

L.  SCOTT. 

Letter  of  Rev.  J.  C.  Keener,  Bishop  of  M.  E.  Church 
(South). 

.V-  ,/•  Orleans,  Sept.  7th,  1879. 

MB.  F.  E.  MARINE. — Dear  Brother  : 

"Your  favor  is  at  hand,  asking  for  items  in  regard  to  Rev. 
John  Hersey ;  I  regret  that  I  an?  unable  to  supply  you  with 
any.  I  knew  him  as  a  preacher,  calling  at  my  father's 
house,  when  I  was  young  and  just  from  school ;  and  I  after- 
wards entertained  him  here  in  New  Orleans  for  a  week  or 
two.  before  the  war,  where  he  preached  in  our  churches  ;  but 


92  SKETCH  OF 

of  his  history,  I  know  nothing  special,  or  reliable  He  was 
a  delightful  man,  exemplifying  the  beauty  of  holiness,  for 
years,  wherever  he  went,  and  an  able  minister  of  the  New 
Testament." 

Yours  truly, 

J   C.  KEENER. 

The  Rev.  W.  R.  Monroe,  M.  D.,  a  distinguished  minister 
of  the  Local  Preachers'  Association,  writes  : 

"Some  of  us  knew  the  eccentric  John  Hersey,  who  during 
his  ministry  never  wore  broadcloth,  but  dressed  in  rough, 
home-spun,  grey  kersey.  Father  Hersey  as  he  was  reveren- 
tially called,  was  a  very  devoted  man'of  God,  an  indefatiga- 
ble Christian  worker,  and  a  most  earnest  local  preacher  for 
forty-two  years.  He  was  so  self-sacrificing,  that  he  slept  but 
little,  and  then  generally  on  a  hard  mattress,  or  a  bare  flour, 
covered  with  a  blanket.  He  ate  the  simplest  food,  and  never 
indulged  in  any  luxuries,  except  those  of  prayer  and  preach- 
ing .  He  traveled  long  distance"?  on  foot.  He  preached  one 
forenoon  in  Washington  city,  then  walked  nearly  forty 
miles  to  Baltimore,  where  he  preached  the  same  night.  He 
occasionally  supplied  vacancies  on  the  circuits,  and  would 
walk  at  all  the  appointments  and  preach,  and  would  visit 
every  family  within  the  bounds  of  the  circuit,  on  foot,  and 
pray  with  them,  and  exhort  with  them  to  seek  Christ.  For 
a  number  of  years  he  was  the  City  Missionary  in  Baltimore, 
preaching  on  the  streets,  and  in  the  chapels;  during 'those 
years  he  was  made  a  blessing  to  thousands,  both  temporally 
and  spiritually." 

A  good  Quaker  physician  of  Georgetown,  D.  C.,  who 
prescribed  for  Father  Hersey  on  one  occasion,  being  so  im- 
pressed with  his  deep  piety,  said  to  a  friend,  concerning  him, 
"That  when  he  died,  he  would  go  up  like  a  rocket." 

Father  Hersey  often  preached  in  private  houses,  where  a 
few  neighbors  could  be  assembled.  Occasionally  my  father- 
in-law  would  take  him  out  to  his  country-place,  a  few  miles 
from  the  city  to  spend  a  night,  when  a  few  neighbors  would 
be  informed  of  the  fact,  and  would  gladly  come  to  hear 'him 
preach.  After  my  father-in-law's  death,  I  have  taken  him 
out  to  the  same  house,  where  he  most  earnestly  and  faithfully 
preached  Christ  to  a  few  glad  listeners.  Perhaps  the  last 


JOHN  HEESEY.  95 

time  I  took  him  out  to  the  country  with  me,  just  before 
arriving  at  our  place,  I  informed  him  we  would  stop  a  little- 
nearer,  as  we  had  built  a  new  house,  and  were  occupying  the 
same,  on  a  new  avenue,  that  had  recently  been  opened.  He 
immediately  began  to  rebuke  me  by  saying  the  former  house 
was  sufficient,  without  building  a  new  one.  Soon  after- 
entering  our  house,  he  called  for  all  about  the  place,  to  come 
into  prayers,  as  his  custom  was.  After  reading  the  Scrip- 
tures, he  engaged  in  prayer,  and  prayed  most  fervently  for 
my  wife  and  self,  saying  to  the  Lord  we  had  almost  gone  to- 
rum,  and  praying  for  our  forgiveness. 

He  lived  to  an  advanced  age,  and  was  greatly  beloved  for 
his  devotion  to  God,  and  his  success  in  saving  souls  ;  pe-ace 
to  his  memory." 

Rev.  T.  M.  C.  writes  : 

January  8th,  1879. 
F.  E.  MARINE. 

"Yours  of  the  30th  inst.  came  to  hand.  I  have  letters- 
received  through  the  course  of  several  years,  from  my  high- 
ly esteemed  friend  and  Bro.,  Rev.  John  Hersey,  which  I  did 
not  intend  to  part  with,  but  if  any  good  can  be  accomplish- 
ed by  placing  them  in  your  hands,  you  shall  have  them." 

On  Feb.  22nd,  Bro.  C.  writes:  "If  you  succeed  in  collec- 
ting sufficient  matter  to  write  a  short  history  of  the  life 
and  labors  of  our  dear  Bro.  J.  II.,  it  will  afford  me  great 
pleasure.  I  have  often  wondered,  why  some  member  of  the 
M.  E.  Church,  of  which  he  was  an  honored  member,  did 
not  give  to  the  church  and  the  world,  a  history  of  the  dear 
old  servant  of  our  Master ;  while  the  history  of  many,  not 
more  deserving,  have  been  scattered  broad-cast  over  the 
land.  I  have  not  the  honor  to  be  a  member  of  the  M.  E. 
Church,  but  an  Elder  in  the  M.  P.  Church  ;  but  a  part 
of  my  family  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  but  my 
love  and  theirs  differ  not  for  that  dear  old  man,  who  was 
for  many  years  a  visitor  at  our  house,  and  an  honored  and 
welcome  guest ;  perhaps  the  last  visit  he  ever  made  to  Har- 
ford  County,  was  to  our  place.  He  was  no  longer  able  to 
preach,  but  was  calmly  waiting  for  his  discharge  from  ser- 
vice to  reward.  I  often  think  of  him  during  that  visit :  my 
wife  and  children  did  all  they  could  to  make  his  stay  with  us 


94  SKETCH  OF 

as  pleasant  as  possible ;  his  appetite  had  failed,  and  his  limbs 
were  swelling,  so  that  he  was  very  feeble,  yet  he  was  as- 
cheerful  and  happy  as  a  school-boy,  after  the  confinement 
of  the  day  is  over.  We  all  enjoyed  his  visit,  and  sorry  when 
he  left,  for  we  all  felt  that  we  should  never  see  him  again  in 
this  life.  He  wrote  to  me  after  he  reached  Penningtonville, 
but  one  letter,  as  he  lived  but  a  short  time ;  in  his  last  letter, 
he  spoke  of  the  great  kindness  shown  by  all  the  denomina- 
tions of  that  place  ;  this  was  all  right,  for  our  dear  old  friend 
was  no  bigot,  but  a  companion  of  all  them  that  feared  God 

Father  Hersey  seldom  indulged  in  anecdotes,  but  being 
very  intimate  with  me,  he  would  sometimes  relate  one  con- 
cerning himself.  He  told  me  that  he  was  preaching  one  day 
in  a  neighboring  State,  in  a  church  where  one  of  the  mem- 
bers, a  gentleman,  who  was  very  rich  ;  you  doubtless  remember 
how  he  used  to  pepper  the  rich ;  while  preaching  on  that 
occasion,  he  touched  that  rich  brother's  feelings,  and  he  hung 
his  head,  resting  it  on  his  hands  ;  Bro.  Hersey's  shot  fell 
thicker  and  faster  around  him,  until  this  rich  brother  forget- 
ting himself,  threw  up  his  head  and  exclaimed  aloud  in  the 
congregation,  '.'Good  Lord  but  that  is  hard;"  but  said  he,. 
"Bro.  Hersey  you  are  right,  go  on." 

Greensboro,  Caroline  Co.,  Md  ,  Jan.  23/rT,  1879. 

DEAR  BRO.  MARINE  : 

"Your  letter  comes  in  a  bad  time  for  me,  as  every  moment 
of  my  time  is  so  taken  up  in  my  extra  meetings,  that  I  can 
scarcely  find  a  moment  to  recall  past  events  connected  with 
my  clear  friend  and  brother  of  former  days — John  Hersey. 
I  will  bovvover,  give  you  a  few  incidents  illustrative  of  that 
departed  minister." 

"On  one  occasion  occasion  I  was  invited  with  him  and  a 
certain  M.  D.,  who  was  a  very  fashionable  man,  known  to 
be  living  beyand  his  income,  and  could  not  pay  his  honest 
debts,  to  dine  with  a  poor  man  whose  wife  had  made  a  great 
display  in  the  culinary  department.  Meats  of  the  choicest 
description,  and  oysters  prepared  in  the  varied  and  nzost 
approved  stylo  only  relieved  the  sumptuousness  of  the  deli- 
cacies under  which  the  table  fairly  groaned,  as  we  advanced 
to  partake  of  this  inviting  repast.  Bro.  Hersey  got  one 
glance  at  the  table  thus  prepared,  when  stepping  back,  he 


JOHN  HERSEY.  95 

asked  to  be  excused  from  participating  in  the  meal,  adding 
that  he  could  not  conscientiouly  encourage  such  extrava- 
gance. The  doctor  undertook  to  reprove  him,  when  Bro. 
Hersey  said  :  "Now  if  I  wore  fine  clothes,  rode  in  a  fine 
carriage,  wore  gold  glasses,  and  indulged  in  similar  luxu- 
ries, whilst  I  did  not  pay  my  tailors',  or  butchers',  or  provi- 
sion dealers'  bill,  I  would  be  a  deceiver  and  a  hypocrite,  and 
upon  the  same  principle,  by  partaking  of  this  dinner,  I 
should  encourage  this  brother's  extravagance,  and  would  be 
equally  guilty  before  God."  He  subsequently  told  me,  that 
the  doctor  had  no  use  for  him  afterwards,  avoiding  him  on 
all  occasions. 

V 

Whilst  I  was  stationed  on  the  circuit,  on  one  occasion  Bro. 
Hcrscy  preached  for  me-.  After  the  sermon,  a  good  sister, 
the  wife  of  a  merchant  who  sold  liquor,  and  who  had  usually 
entertained  the  ministers,  invited  him  to  her  housefor  dinner. 
Bro.  Hersey  asked  her,  "Where  do  you  live"?  she  replied, 
"At  the  store."  He  enquired,  "Do  you  sell  liquor  there  ?" 
She  answered,  "Yes."  '  Then"  said  he,  turning  away  with  a 
look  which  she  never  forgot,  '  'I  never  eat  bread  that  is  obtained 
in  that  way."  The  sister  returned  home  weeping ;  whereupon, 
her  husband  inquired  the  cause  of  her  distress,  when  she  told 
him  that  her  feelings  had  been  wounded,  and  related  what 
Bro.  Her.sey  had  said  to  her.  During  the  afternoon  the 
husband  appeared  to  be  in  deep  thought,  and  when  on  the 
next  day  his  son  went  to  the  city  to  purchase  a  bill  of  gojjds, 
the  article  of  liquor  in  all  its  forms  was  omitted  therefrom. 

Thus  by  the  straightforward,  plain,  consistent  course  of 
this  venerable  man,  was  the  stream  of  evil  cut  off,  the  work- 
ings of  intemperance  narrowed  and  abridged.  Yet  such  was 
liis  modesty  and  unselfishness,  that  he  never  alluded  to  this 
circumstance,  which  was  therefore  only  known  by  the  family 
of  the  merchant. 

Brother  Hersey  once  visited  me  in  Cambridge,  where  I  took 
him  to  some  of  my  friends,  one  of  whom,  an  official  member 
of  our  church,  had  a  luxurious  home,  costly  furnished  and 
decorated  with  fine  portraits  of  members  of  his  family.  Bro. 
Hersey  asked  our  host,  how  he  could  take  his  Lord's  money 
and  spend  it  for  such  things,  when  his  heathen  brethren 
were  in  perishing  condition.  The  brother  said  he  placed  a 
great  estimate  upon  the  paintings,  for  they  recalled  to  his 


STi  .  SKETCH  OF 

mind,  the  departed.  Bro.  Hersey  looked  at  him  smilingly 
and  said  :  "Are  we  not  strange  creatures,  to  forget  how  our 
dear  ones  looked  when  they  lived." 

The  brother  then  said,  "Bro.  Hersey,  I  think  you  would 
lie  far^more  useful,  if  you  would  change  your  manner  of 
dress  ;  our  preacher,  I  think  dresses  about  right".  '-Yes,"  re- 
joined Bro.  Hersey,  "I  suppose  he  does  to  suit  you.  ?" 

At  the  dinner  table,  on  one  occasion,  my  wife  remarked 
that  she  never  had  a  desire  to  be  rich.  Then  rejoined  Bro. 
Hersey,  who  was  dining  with  us,  "You  should  have  no 
desire  to  appear  rich,  which  you  do  by  wearing  a  dress  which 
betokens  that  condition ;  I  am  a  poor  man,  and  my  clothes 
show  it :  I  dress  according  to  my  circumstances." 

I  have  often  wished  some  one  would  write  the  life  of  Bro. 
John  Hersey.  May  the  Lord  bless  you  in  this  good  work,  is 
the  sincere  prayer  of  my  heart. 

Your  Bro.  in  Christ, 

J.  A.  BRINDLE, 

Wilmington  -Conference. 
Brulgei-ille,  Delaware,  Feb.  IBth,  1879. 
DEAR  BRO.  MARINE: 

Yours  of  the  8th  was  duly  received.  I  will  be  glad  to 
serve  you  in  gathering  Herseyan,  so  far  as  I  can.  I  know 
but  little  about  him  myself,  and  nothing  at  all  about  his 
early  life,  except  that  I  have  heard  it  said,  that  he  was  a  gay 
wild  young  man ;  that  extravagance  caused  him  to  break  in 
business,  and  that  after  his  conversion  he  adopted  his  very 
frugal  and  extreme  way  of  living,  to  save  means  to  pay  his 
debfs,  and  that  it  grew  upon  his  ascetic  nature  and  disgusted 
spirit,  until  great  self-denial  became  a  habit  and  a  passion. 

He  was  in  my  place  of  business,  in  Camden,  Del.,  in  1857, 
and  knowing  his  extreme  opposition  to  wearing  gold  and 
costly  apparel,  as  well  as  all  fashion  following,  I  said  to  him: 
"Father  Hersey,  I  have  thought  it  would  be  a  wise  thing, 
for  the  evangelical  church,  throughout  the  whole  world,  to 
hold  a  General  Convention,  on  dress,  and  by  a  judicious 
committee,  adopt  a  permanent  style  of  dress,  both  for  ladies 
and  gentleman,  that  will  be  at  once  most  simple,  beautiful, 


JOHN  HERSEY.  97 

•comfortable,  convenient,  appropriate  and  economical."  He 
replied,  "Ah!  my  brother,  if  we  get  the  inside  right,  the 
outside  will  be  right  also."  He  did  not  believe  in  getting 
the  world  right,  by  the  mere  action  of  Christian  conventions. 
I  will  s.ee  what  I  can  learn  for  you  at  Conference.  But  near- 
ly all  the  fathers  from  whom  might  be  gathered  reminiscences 
have  passed  away.  The  now  reigning  Pharoah  knew  not  Jo- 
seph. Can't  you  visit  Conference  yourself,  at  least  for  a  day  or 
two  ?  Let  me  suggest  a  title  for  your  memorial  or  biography : 
"The  voice  of  one  crying  in  the  wilderness."  Was  he  not 
in  some  respects,  cut  out  by  the  pattern  of  John,  the  Baptist? 
Kind  regard  to  your  family, 

Yours  in  Christ  Jesus, 

J.  T.  VAN  BUEKALOW, 
Wilmington  Conference,  M.  E.  C. 

ConsJiohockcn,  May,  1879. 
BJIO.  MARINE  : 

I  knew  Bro.  Hersey  personally.  When  I  was  a  boy 
he  frequently  came  to  uiy  father's  house,  in  Wilmington, 
Del  ,  and  I  remember  to-day,  very  distinctly,  his  searching 
inquiries  and  impressive  advice.  At  the  time,  the  words  of 
the  holy  man  wore  not  a  ploasant  sound  to  me.  They  made 
my  hair  fairly  stand  up,  and  soemed  to  give  mo  an  untimely 
tasto  of  th3  judgin3nt,  I  little  thought  then,  that  I  would 
travel  a  few  yours  later  the  same  circuit  (Cochranville)  upon 
which  Bro.  Hersey  died  :  yet  so  it  was.  I  found  that  the 
people  on  this  circuit,  preserved  a  very  distinct  recollection 
of  Father  Hersey's  loyalty  to  his  country,  and  also  of  his 
searching  appeals  from  the  pulpit. 

An  amusing  incident  in  connection  with  Father  Hersey's 
earnest  manner  of  addressing  his  hearers,  was  related  to  me 
by  Bro.  Fox,  now  dead,  but  formerly  of  the  Scottsville  M. 
E.  Church,  then  on  Cochranville  Circuit : 

Bro.  Fox,  who  was  a  farmer,  had  entertained  Father 
\\  -i^oy  over  Saturday  night,  prior  to  his  preaching  in  the 
Scottsville  Church,  next  morning  ;  observing  that  Bro  F. 
was  not  preparing  for  church,  Father  Hersey  inquired  if  he 

were  not  going.      "I  think  not"  said   15ro.   F ;  "I  have 

labored  so  hard  during  tli3  week,  and   feel   so    wearied   this 


98  SKETCH  OF 

morning,  I  know  I  would  go  to  sleep,  and  in  that  case,  you 
would  reprove  me."  Father  Hersey  after  a  moment's  reflec- 
tion, said,  "Ue  thought  he  would  not  admonish,  or  reprove, 

under    the  circumstances ;"  and   Bro.    F concluded  to 

attend  the  service.  It  was  not  long  before  Bro.  Fox  was 
lost  in  forgetfulness  of  all  surroundings.  Father  Hersey  on 
the  other  hand,  was  warming  up  with  his  theme,  and  reach- 
ing a  point  where  he  felt  called  to  exhort  the  people  to  arouse 
themselves,  he  cried,  "Wake  up,  I  say."  The  effect  upon 
Bro.  F was  most  arousing  ;  thinking  the  dreaded  re- 
proof had  at  last  come,  he  almost  bounded  from  his  seat  and 
opened  his  eyes,  to  find  that  he  had  made  a  spectacle  of  him- 
self before  the  people,  and  that  the  good  man,  true  to  his 
word,  had  simply  exhorted  to  a  spiritual  awakening. 

During  his  later  days,  Father  Hersey  was  compelled  to 
change  somewhat  in  his  acts  of  self-denial.  The  last  night 
I  remember  to  have  seen  him  at  my  father's  house,  my 
mother  knowing  his  indisposition  to  seek  ease  even  in  slum- 
ber, and  that  he  had  before  shown  an  aversion  to  feather 
beds,  exclaiming,  "The  Son  of  man  had  not.  where  to  lay 
his  head  ;"  inquired  whether  she  should  substitute  a  mattress 
therefore  in  the  spare  room.  He  replied  that  his  suffering 
from  rheumatism  was  such,  as  to  make  it  necessary  for  him 
to  accept  the  softer  bed.  But  even  in  this  no  one  who 
knew  him,  will  doubt  that  he  had  first  assured  himself  that 
it  was  right  before  God. 

W.  A.  JOHNSON, 

Philadclph  ia  Confercn  ce. 

June  IGth,  1879. 
DEAII  Bno.  MARINE  : 

Father  Ilersey  about  the  time  the  war  broke  out,  had 
arranged  for  a  trip  through  the  South  ;  the  war  clouds  were 
fast  gathering,  and  his  friends  tried  to  persuade  him  to 
abandon  his  plans  and  remain  in  Baltimore.  lie  answered 
them  that  he  had  been  impressed  that  it  was  his  duty  to  go, 
and  that  he  was  not  responsible  for  the  existing  state  of  the 
country,  and  would  therefore,  keep  on,  going  about  his 
Father's  business ;  desirous  of  making  provision  for  the 
poor,  whom  he  had  been  helping,  he  went  to  his  friends  and 
committed  them  to  their  care. 


JOHN  HERSEY.  99 

A  poor  woman  with  two  children,  lived  in  the  vicinity  of 
Emory  Church,  of  which  I  was  then  pastor ;  handing  me 
some  money,  he  said:  "Here  brother,  use  this,  and  if  more  is 
needed,  please  continue  to  help  ;  if  I  return  I  will  repay,  if 
not,  the  Lord  will  settle  the  matter  with  you,  no  doubt  to 
your  satisfaction."  He  went,  and  on  his  return,  resumed  the 
care  of  them  until  they  were  enabled  to  do  so  themselves. 

The  extent  of  his  charities  cannot  be  known,  until  the 
Great  Day  shall  reveal  them.  He  practiced  rigid  self-denial 
that  he  might  help  the  poor. 

,GEORGE.  W.  COOPER, 

Baltimore  Conference. 

Father  Hersey  always  regarded  the  South  as  a  field  opened 
before  him,  who  as  a  herald,  would  advance  the  Maker's 
cause ;  he  was  fond  of  visiting  that  section.  Just  a  few 
years  before  the  late  civil  war  he  preached  in  Greenville, 
Virginia,  a  remarkable  sermon  ;  on  this  occasion  he  seemed  to 
have  allowed  his  dormant  power  of  eloquence  to  escape  from 
his  grasp  ;  he  described  Satan  in  pursuit  of  the  sinner  and 
crying  at  every  step,  death!  death!  After  a  painful  sus- 
pense, with  an  electrical  thrill,  he  reversed  the  position  and 
proclaimed  aloud,  that  while  Satan  pursued  and  shouted  the 
sentence  of  doom,  a  voice  from  Calvary  proclaimed  life !  life! 
that  this  was  music  in  the  sinner's  ears,  who  found  a  refuge 
in  the  rock — Christ  Jesus. 

Brother  Wilford  Downs,  of  the  Baltimore  Conference,  M. 
E.  Church,  who  has  a  vivid  recollection  of  the  aforemention- 
ed sermon,  was  visited  at  his  home  in  Frostburg,  Maryland, 
by  Father  Hersey,  during  the  year  1861.  While  his  short 
stay  lasted,  he  at  different  times  preached  with  great  unction 
and  power,  and  as  was  usual,  visited  and  prayed  with  the 
families  of  the  place  ;  when  he  came  across  those  who  were  in 
want,  they  were  the  recipients  of  his  charity  Whilst  at  Bro. 
Downs'  house,  he  spoke  with  great  earnestness  to  him  of  the 
approaching  storm  of  civil  war,  the  dark  clouds  of  which 
were  gathered  above  the  nation's  existence. 

The  first  battle  of  Bull  Run  had  not  then  been  fought ;  it 
was  his  belief,  that  the  war  would  last  four  yjjars,  and 
with  perfect  faith  in  his  prediction,  he  cited  certain  passage* 


100  SKETCH  OF 

from  the  book  of  Revelation,  to  sustain  his  position  ;  subse- 
quent history  when  its  periods  were  all  rounded  up,  showed 
that  he  had  not  calculated  amiss. 

He  also  good  humoredly,  narrated  the  part  he  had  per- 
sonally taken  in  the  "Races  at  Bladensburg,"  as  the  bat- 
tle of  that  place  was,  years  ago,  familiarly  called.  He  was- 
at  that  time  a  merchant  in  Georgetown,  and  when  recounting 
the  part  he  took  in  that  action,  said  with  considerable  zest : 
"Our  troops  ran,  and  I  ran  too  ;  at  that  time  I  was  a  proud 
young  man,  and  with  others  went  out  to  make  the  British 
run,  but  they  turned  the  tables  upon  us;"  and  here  followed 
a  laugh,  so  hearty  and  real,  and  withal  so  unusual,  as  to 
seeni  marvellous. 

There  is  also  the  same  authority  for  the  statement,  that  at 
a  quarterly  meeting,  held  at  Bel-Air,  Maryland,  during  (he 
time  that  Father  EJersey  was  junior  preacher  on  that  circuit,, 
a  heavy  snow  had  fallen,  and  the  sleighing  was  excellent ; 
after  the  Monday  morning  appointment,  the  preachers  present, 
who  were  F.  McCartney,  Father  Hersey  and  W.  .Downs, 
were  seated  in  the  sleigh  of  a  good  brother,  and  driven 
several  miles  out  in  the  county  to  his  house  to  dinner  ;  while 
on  the  way,  Brother  Downs  remarked,  "Father  Hersey,  what 
would  you  think  if  on  my  return  to  Baltimore,  I  should 
state  that  you  had  been  out  sleighing  ;"  this  was  a  poser:  his 
countenan  ce  showed  that  he  felt  some  inward  emotion;  the 
effect  of  which  was  to  prevent  any  further  reference  to  the 
subject. 

An  esteemed  brother  writes  of  Father  Ilersey — "How 
shall  we  that  are  dead  to  sin,  live  any  longer  therein." 

St.  Paul  said— "I  am  crucified  with  Christ,  nevertheless,  I 
live,  yet  not  I,  but  Christ  liveth  in  me." 

If  any  man,  since  the  days  of  St.  Paul,  was  truly  crucified 
with  Christ,  that  man  was  John v  Ilersey  ;  for  he  was  more 
like  a  man  from  the  spirit  world,  than  of  the  earth.  He  was 
as  dead  to  sin  and  to  the  spirit  and  customs  of  the  world,  as  if 
he  were  not  living  in  it.  And  he  was  so  spiritually  alive  to- 
God,  as  if  he  were  among  the  "Spirits  of  the  just  made  per- 
fect." II is  conversation  wns  in  heaven.  It  was  clearly 
apparent  to  those  who  knew  him  best,  that  his  citizenship 
was  in  heaven.  He  dwelt  in  love,  and  consequently,  dwelt 


JOHN  HERSEY.  101 

in  God.    He  abided  in  Christ,  a  living  branch  to  the  true  Vine, 
lie  lived  in  the  Spirit,  yea    he    also    walked    in    the  Spirit. 

The  love  and  goodness  of  God  as  manifested  in  Christ  to 
fallen  men,  occupied  all  his  thoughts,  and  all  his  hours. 
His  uniform  custom  was  to  rise  very  early  in  the  morning, 
even  "a  great  while  before  it  was  day,"  and  commune  with 
God,  in  reading  His  word,  and  in  prayer  for  several  hours. 

Being  thus  endued  every  morning  with  power  from  on  high, 
he  became  fully  prepared  to  spend  the  whole  day  in  going 
out  among  the  poor,  in  ministering  to  the  sick  and  needy, 
and  in  helping  all  by  his  counsels,  his  sympathies  and  his 
prayers. 

He  was  the  most  self-denying  and  self-sacrificing  man  I 
ever  knew.  He  slept  but  little  ;  he  ate  but  little,  and  that 
the  simplest  and  most  easily  digested  food ;  he  wore  the 
plainest  and  cheapest  clothing,  and  consequently,  gave  away 
to  the  poor,  all  that  was  ever  given  to  him,  except  barely 
enough  to  procure  the  coarse  clothing  he  wore.  Often  he 
would  procure  and  carry  with  him  provisions  to  feed  the 
hungry,  and  garments  to  clothe  the  naked.  He  would  visit 
the  sick  and  those  in  prisons,  and  minister  unto  them. 

His  preaching  was  scriptural,  close,  heart-  searching,  con- 
vincing and  powerful.  The  Spirit  of  God  was  in  his  holy 
utterances  of  Divine  Truth.  Many  were  awakened  and  con- 
verted to  God,  under  his  preaching  ;  and  many  were  comfort- 
cil  and  strengthened  in  their  faith  and  love  to  Christ. 

Multitudes  in  the  humble  walks  of  life  were  blessed  by 
the  visitations,  counsels  and  prayers  of  Father  Hcrsey.  He 
kept  a  book  in  which  he  wrote  hundreds  of  names  of  those 
persons  who  had  requested  his  prayers  :  and  that  book,  he 
would  open  before  God,  present  every  name,  with  every  re- 
quest in  the  name  of  Christ.  He  "visited  the  fatherless  and 
the  widows  in  their  affliction,  and  kept  himself  unspotted 
from  the  world." 

In  the  meekness  and  boldness  of  his  Master,  he  was 
always  ready  in  his  uncompromising  spirit  with  the  world 
and  si'i,  fearlessly  to  reprove  sin,  fashion  and  worldly-mind- 
cdness,  :iml  extravagance  in  dress,  furniture,  food,  or  in  any 
thing  else.  The  Christian  community  looked  upon  him  as 
being  extreme  and  eccentric  ;  yet  if  he  were  eccentric  and  as- 


102  SKETCH  OF 

cetic  in  his  way  of  living  and  teaching,  he  was  on  the  safe 
side,  for  ho  was  conscientious  in  his  convictions  upon  this 
subject.  The  love  of  Christ  constrained  him  in  all  he  said, 
and  in  all  he  did.  He  felt  it  his  duty  to  denounce  the  spirit 
of  the  world,  the  lusts  of  the  flesh,  and  pride  of  life,  especi- 
ally among  professors  of  religion. 

His  conversation  was  always  of  the  most  profitable  kind,  for 
it  was  seasoned  with  the  grace  of  Clod.  No  doubt  multitudes 
•whom  he  helped,  will  arise  up  in  the  day  of  Judgment  and 
•call  him  blessed. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

RECOLLECTIONS  ov  FATHER  HEKSEY,  J$Y  Bno.  ROBT.  TURNER. 

"He  had  eyes  lifted  up  to  heaven ;  the  best  of  books  in  his 
hand;  the  law  of  truth  was  written  upon  his  lifts;  the  world 
was  behind  his  back.  He  stood  as  if  he  pleaded  with  men, 
and  a  crown  of  glory  did  hang  over  his  head." 

Bunyarfs  Pilgrim 's  Progress. 

We  quote  the  foregoing  picture  as  a  true  portrait  of  Father 
Hersey,  as  we  thought  of  and  viewed  hirn  in  life,  which  was 
a  lesson  and  a  treasure  in  our  home.  Never  did  we  feel  so 
honored,  as  when  our  roof  sheltered  him.  This  was  a  privi- 
lege granted  us  frequently  during  the  latter  years  of  his  life. 
Consistency  was  one  of  his  prominent  characteristics  ;  he  not 
only  preached  righteousness,  faith,  charity,  peace,  self-denial, 
but  he  practiced  these  virtues.  lie  rebuked  all  that  he  be- 
lieved to  be  sinful,  in  love,  not  in  anger.  His  example  reflec- 
ted more  fully  the  lovely  image  of  his  Master,  than  any  one 
I  have  ever  known.  His  gentle  refinement,  and  affectionate 
nature,  won,  not  only  the  highest  respect,  but  the  love  of  every 
member  of  our  family,  as  well  as  every  domestic  ;  each  and  all 
feeling  that  Father  Hersey  was  interested  in  their  welfare. 
His  explanation  of  the  scriptures  at  family  prayer,  wns  par- 
ticularly interesting  and  instructive,  and  when  he  prayed  that 
we  might  have  an  abundant  "entrance  into  the  better  land," 
•we  felt  that  he  had  done  us  good ;  believing  that  true  prayer 
reaches  up  to  heaven. 


JOHN  HERSEY  103 

An  incident  occurs  to  my  mind  just  now  in  connection 
with  Father  Hersey,  which  I  will  relate.  Some  years  before 
his  denth,  he  called  upon  me,  and  remarked  that  he  owed 
some  three  hundred  dollars  which  was  a  deht  incurred  in  his 
early  business,  and  that  whilst  legally  exonerated  from  pay- 
ing it,  he  still  felt  morally  bound  to  cancel  the  obligation. 

Having  hoard  that  two  of  the  children  of  one  of  his  creditors 
who  had  been  many  years  dead,  were  living  in  New  York,  in 
reduced  circumstances,  he  w;is  determined  to  find  them,  and 
pay  to  them  the  amount  which  he  had  owed  to  their  father. 
I  said  to  him.  "Father  Hersey,  do  you  suppose  you  can  find 
anybody  living  that  would  take  from  you  that  sum?"  He 
replied,  "I  feel  it  is  a  religious  duty,  and  must  be  performed." 
I  said,  "Father  Hersey,  if  you  find  the  p;irties  to  whom  you 
refer,  I  want  you  to  draw  on  me  at  sight  for  the  amount ; " 
he  replied  with  a  smile  and  "God  bless  you."  I  heard  noth- 
ing from  him  until  somj  time  after,  when  having  occ-ision  to 
visit  New  York  I  met  him  at  the  New  York  East  Conference ;  be- 
ing curious  to  know  whether  he  had  fallen  in  with  the  children 
of  his  creditors,  I  inquired  into  the  matter.  He  answered, 
"Yes,  and  I  have  their  receipt  in  full  ;  I  have  paid  them  and 
whilst  they  hesitated,  still  they  did  receive  the  money,  remark- 
ing that  they  'were  now  convinced  that  father  was  not  mista- 
ken in  his  often  repeated  assertion,  that  John  Hersey  was  an 
honest  man.'"  This  tribute  to  his  virtues  was  richer  than 
any  earthly  honor,  however  exalted,  that  could  have  been  be- 
stowed. 

During  his  stay  with  us,  when  his  health  seemed  to  be  fail- 
ing, and  the  physician  assured  us  that  he  could  not  recover 
from  his  debilitated  condition,  yet,  could  be  rendered  more 
comfortable  by  confmning  to  certain  rules  prescribed,  I  suc- 
ceeded after  some  difficulty,  in  convincing  him  that  it  was  a 
religious  duty  which  he  owed  to  himself  as  well  as  his  friends, 
to  yield  a  little  from  the  abstemious  regimen  which  had  been 
his  habit  through  so  many  years  of  his  later  life.  The  change 
of  diet  for  a  short  time  seemed  to  revive  him ;  and  gaining 
strength,  he  resolved  to  finii-h  some  books  which  his  impaired 
health  had  compelled  him  to  abandon.  For  this  purpose,  he 
retired  to  a  quiet  ruml  village  about  fifty  miles  from  Phila- 
delphia, Pa.,  now  called  Atglen,  but  then  known  as  Penning- 
tonville,  where  his  books  were  completed,  and  his  pious  and 
useful  life  ended. 


104  SKETCH  OF 

My  last  connection  with  him  was  to  rec3ive  over  one  hun- 
dred dollars,  the  receipts  from  the  sale  of  books  which  he  had 
left  with  his  friends  This  money,  thus  left  by  Father  Iler- 
sey,  was  designed  by  him  as  a  sacred  legacy  to  the  poor.  For 
many  years  I  have  been  conscientiously  endeavoring  to  execute 
this  duty  in  the  spirit  of  him  who  devised  it,  by  distributing 
it  to  necessitous  cases,  such  as  were  the  objects  of  Father  Her- 
sey's care,  when  able  to  attend  personally  to  its  distribution  ; 
and  some  how  or  other,  this  legacy,  like  the  widow's  cruse  of 
oil  and  barrel  of  meal,  has  never  been  exhausted,  but  is  yet 
being  distributed  iri  Father  Hersey's  name,  and  is  placed  to 
the  credit  of  the  Hersey  Fund. 

I  will  here  mention  an  incident  connected  with  the  death  of 
our  child  Lily,  which  made  an  impression  that  can  never  be  ef- 
faced from  our  memory.  She  was  baptized  by  Father  Her- 
sey, when  a  few  weeks  old,  who  ever  after  evinced  the  deep- 
est solicitude  and  affection  for  her,  speaking  of  her  as  the  best 
of  the  family.  As  her  age  increased  she  became  fond  of  him, 
hailing  his  coming  with  delight,  ;md  always  called  him  "Fa- 
ther Hersey.''  She  died  when  two  years  and  three  months 
old,  some  months  after  Father  Hersey's  death,  whom  she 
had  not  seen  for  a  year,  and  whom  we  supposed  she  had  for. 
gotten,  in  consequence  of  her  tender  age.  When  dying,  she 
reached  forth  her  hand,  and  in  a  tone  of  salutation,  exclaimed, 
Father  Hersey ! 

Is  the  vail  which  separates  child — like  innocence  and  purity 
in  this  world,  from  matured  spiritual  perfection  in  the  next 
so  thin,  so  transparent,  that  this  little  innocent  could  peer 
through  the  gloom,  and  recognise  her  departed  friend  in  the 
beyond  ?  Can  the  redeemed  saints  be  introduced  into  the 
spiritual  world  before  life  is  extinct  in  the  material?  We 
know  not,  yet  believe,  what  St.  Paul  inferentially  declares, 
"Are  they  not  all  ministering  spirits  sent  forth  to  comfort  the 
heirs  of  salvation."  We  believe  that  the  purified  vision  of 
our  angel  child  saw  and  recognised  the  sanctified  image  of  the 
departed  father,  who  wrote  the  following  lines  on  Lily,  just 
6  months  and  10  days  before  he  went  to  heaven. 

ACROSTIC. 

Each  bal»e,  Christ  folds  within  His  arms, 
Lwves  and  imparts  to  them  new  charms, 
In  mercy  saves  them  from  death's  alarms. 


JOHN  HERSEY.  105- 

Zion's  children  are  clothed  in  white, 
And  shine  their  radiant  stars  more  bright; 
liehold  for  those  what  Christ  hath  done  ! 
Each  one  exhalted  to  his  high  throne, 
There  to  wear  an  everlasting  crown, 
Honored  above  earth's  smiles,  or  frown. 

A  cruel  Herod  said  they  must  die, 
Save  Lord,  and  hear  a  mother's  cry, 
His  cruel  hate,  O  turn  away, 
Let  our  children  live  and  learn  to  pray. 
Each  mother  now  rests  secure, 
Your  babes  shall  live  to  die  no  more. 

Then  mother  you  must  act,  your  part, 
Unite  with  Christ  to  mould  her  heart. 
Kise  and  lead  her  to  the  throne  of  grace, 
Now  teach  her  to  love  that  holy  place, 
End  then  life's  day  and  reign  above, 
Renewed  in  everlasting  love. 

'  Suffer  the  little  children  to  come  unto  me,  and  forbid  them. 
not;  for  of  such  is  the  Kingdom  of  God." — MARK  x,  14. 

"Mother,  bring  your  child  to  Christ  in  tha  arms  of  faith  and 
love  ;  train  her  up  iu  the  way  in  which  she  should  go,  and 
when  she  is  old,  she  will  not  depart  therefrom.  Tho  way  in 
which  she  should  go  is  the  King's  highway  of  holiness — the  way 
of  obedience,  of  love,  arid  reverence  for  God  and  her  parents. 
Never  permit  her  to  disobey  your  word,  no  never,  or  she  will 
be  emboldened  to  disobey  the  word  *of  the  Lord,  which 
must  result  in  condemnation.  Remember,  you  are  not  qual- 
ified to  teach  her. those  things  with  which  you  are  yourself 
unacquainted ;  therefore,  be  ye  holy,  for  I  am  holy  saith  the 
Lord." 

Baltimore,   May  1th,  18C2.  J.  H. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 
LAST  DAYS  ON  EARTH. 

We  appro.-ich  the  end  of  Father  Ilerscy's  earthly  career  ; 
his  sun  set  without  a  cloud.  Tie  was  much  given  to  musings- 
during  his  last  days,  and  lived  over  his  entire  life  in  retro- 
spection 


106  SKETCH     OF 

The  following  lines — the  familiar  song  of  the  writer's  de- 
parted pious  mother,  which  she  was  most  desirous  should  be 
preserved — contains  sentiments  v<-ry  often  expressed  by  the 
aged  patriarch  ;  they  are  here  assigned  a  place,  as  doubtless 
expressive  of  his  experience  at  this  matured  time  of  his  life. 

A  NEW  SPIRITUAL  SONG. 

Come  Christians  join  with  me  to  praise 

The  Lamb  on  Calvary  ; 
Who  shed  His  blood  upon  the  cross, 

So  free  for  you  and  me  : 
And  by  the  virtue  of  the  same, 

To  heaven  I  hope  to  rise  ; 
And  there  to  shout  redeeming  love, 

With  angels  through  the  skies. 

Deep  waters  here  I  do  pass  through, 

My  Father's  face  to  see  ; 
O  !  children  to  your  Father  pray, 

For  to  remember  me. 
A  pilgrim  here  on  earth  I  am, 

Bound  to  fair  Canaan's  shore, 
The  land  of  rest,  the  saints'  delight, 

Where  sorrows  are  no  more. 

Oft'  times  my  Father  I  have  asked, 

My  soul  to  sanctify, 
That  in  his  church  among  the  saints, 

That  I  may  live  and  die  ; 
But  pride  and  unbelief  has  been 

Injurious  to  my  rise  , 
And  by  my  passions  oft  I  fell, 

Which  clouded  much  my  skies. 

One  more  request  my  Father's  flock, 

I  have  to  ask  of  thee  ; 
That  when  you  are  at  the  Throne  of  Grace, 

There  to  remember  me  ; 
That  when  with  you  I  no  more  meet, 

I  may  in  glory  be  ; 
That  when  you  are  received  home. 

To  shout  along  with  inc. 

Companions  there  in  heaven  we'll  have, 

Just  suited  to  our  mind  ; 
No  turning  back,  no  aching  heart, 
,    No  crosses  there  to  find  : 
No  more  the  people  of  our  own, 

Our  enemies  shall  be  ; 
And  gushing  tears  are  wip'd  away, 

From  pain  forever  free. 


JOHN  HERSEY.  107 

Before  my  song  I  do  conclude, 

Sinners — A  word  to  you  ; 
I  pray  you  to  receive  the  Lord, 

For  He  h  ith  died  for  you  ;   • 
I  want  you  all  to  go  with  me, 

Mot  one  to  stay  behind  ; 
But  let  us  join  and  travel  on, 

Jerusalem  to  tind. 

And  if  I  faint  upon  the  road, 

Don't  you  one  moment  stay  ; 
But  live  to  God,  and  march  along 

To  everlasting  day. 
I  hope  when  I  shall  come  to  die, 

My  rest  to  have  in  view  ; 
Live  near  to  God,  and  watch  and  pray, 

And  He'll  take  care  of  you. 

Hail  happy  souls,  how  fast  you  go, 

And  leave  me  here  behind  : 
Don't  wait  for  me  for  1  do  know, 

The  Lord  is  good  and  kind  ; 
Go  on,  go  on,  my  soul  says  go, 

And  I'll  come  after  you  ; 
Tho'  you're  so  fast,  and  I'm  so  slow, 

I'll  sing  hosanna  too. 

God  give  me  grace  that  I  may  go, 

And  guide  my  steps  aright, 
Tho'  you're  so  fast  and  I'm  so  slow, 

You're  not  yet  out  of  sight  ; 
When  you  get  to  that  world  above, 

And  there  God's  glory  see  ; 
When  you  get  home — your  journey's  end, 

Then  look  you  out  for  me. 

For  I  will  come  fast  as  I  can, 

Along  that  way  I'll  steer, 
And  through  God's  grace,  I  shall  at  last 

Jio  one  among  you  there  ; 
There  all  together  we  shall  be, 

Together  we  shall  sing  ; 
Together  we  shall  praise  our  God 

And  everlasting  King. 

Heaven  is  the  place  I  hope  to  see, 

Then,  all  my  trial  i  over  ; 
I'll  hail  my  old  erOM-teariug  friends, 

And  he  with  C'hrist  forever; 
There  we  shall  moot  no  more  to  part, 

Around  the  Kternal  Throne; 
When;  urn  shall  all  he  done  away, 

And  sorrows  never  come. 


108  SKETCH  OF 

Hard  trials  here  I  do  pass  through, 

But  Jesus  is  my  friend  ; 
What,  tlio'  I  meet  with  trials  now, 

They  all  shall  shortly  end  ; 
Then  1  shall  bid  this  world  adieu, 

Away  my  soul  shall  rly, 
And  wing  away  to  worlds  above, 

Where  pleasures  never  die. 

At  some  period  in  the  year  1862,  he  wrote  the  following, 
which  is  among  the  latest  efforts  of  his  mind  and  pen  : 

"God  in  mercy  has  spared  my  lite  until  I  have  well  nigh 
reached  my  seventy-sixth  year  on  earth,  and  I  feel  sensibly 
that  my  lengthened  days  on  earth  are  fast  drawing  to  a  close. 
Until  within  a  few  mouths  j-ast,  I  have  seldom  felt  any  bodily 
fatigue,  though  I  have  generally  preached  twice  or  thrice 
each  Sunday,  and  nearly  ever}'  night  in  the  week.  I  have 
not  for  many  years  laid  down  in  the  day  time,  unless  in 
case  of  sickness,  which  has  seldom  occurred.  God  in  mer- 
cy has  given  me  strength  to  walk  most  of  the  circuits  I  have 
traveled,  some  of  them  being  very  large.  The  Cnlpeper 
Circuit,  which  was  the  first  I  traveled,  was  two  hundred  and 
forty  miles  around,  with  but  one  rest-day  in  four  weeks. 
The  last  two  circuits  which  I  traveled  only  a  few  years  since, 
West  Harford  and  Cochranyille,  were  about  the  usual  sizes, 
in  these  modern  days.  Two  Sabbaths  I  filled  three  appoint- 
ments five  miles  apart,  and  generally  led  two  classes,  seldom 
retiring  to  bed  feeling  any  more  fatigued,  than  when  I  arose 
in  the  morning.  This,  for  one  over  seventy  years,  may 
.appear  to  be  incrcdib.e.  I  attribute  it  all  to  the  goodness 
.and  mercy  of  God  alone.  It  is  true,  that  I  lived  a  self-deny- 
ing life,  rising  every  morning  at  fuur  o'clock,  and  using  no 
•animal  diet  of  any  kind,  no  tea,  no  coffee,  for  mote  than 
forty  years ,  yet  all  this  would  be  ineffective  without  a  pure 
heart  tilled  with  love  for  God  and  all  mankind.  I  desire  to 
magnify  the  grace  of  the  Lord  Jesus  furiher,  for  the  encour- 
agement of  our  young  brethren  in  the  Lord.  I  have  never 
asked  any  one  for  one  cent  of  money  for  myself,  nor  have  I 
contracted  a  debt  for  many  years  to  t'.u  amount  of  one  cent, 
which  I  conceive  to  be  in  strict  obedience  to  the  gospel 
injunction — "Owe  no  man  anything  ;"  nnd  yet.  within  the 
last  few  years  (under  the  mo.-st  exciting  circumstances,)  I 
have  traveled  several  tiiousand  miles  in  the  Southern  and 
Western  States,  visiting  Alabama,  Mississippi,  Louisiana, 


JOHN  HERSEY.  109 

Tennessee,  Missouri,  Kentucky  and  Ohio,  preaching  Christ 
crucified  in  simplicity,  being  everywhere  received  with  con- 
fidence and  affection.  We  have  a  rich  Father,  and  a  kind 
Master;  therefore,  we  have  nothing  to  fear  from  men,  or  dev- 
ils, or  earthly  contingencies,  if  we  love  God  fervently,  and 
serve  him  with  a  perfect  heart  and  a  willing  mind.  We 
have  a  bond  that  makes  us  rich,  yea,  richer  than  the  Roths- 
child's, viz.:  "All  things  shall  work  together  for  good,  to 
them  that  love  God."  This  fully  meets  every  righteous  de- 
mand, and  supplies  every  Christian  want;  therefore,  one 
anxious  thought  about  to-morrow,  about  what  we  shall  eat, 
or  drink,  or  wear,  dishonors  God,  and  disgraces  our  own 
character  as  children  of  God.  One  dissatisfied  feeling,  one 
distant  murmur  weakens  our  faith,  and  stains  our  spiritual 
garments,  disqualifying  us  for  a  place  at  the  marriage  supper  of 
the  Lamb.  From  the  present  condition  of  our  country  and 
of  the  church,  I  fear  we  are -guilty  of  the  crime  charged 
against  the  rulers  of  the  Jews.  God  says  :  "Ye  have  heal- 
ed the  heart  of  my  people  slightly,  crying  peace,  peace  when 
there  is  no  peace." 

JOHN  HERSEY. 

Although  his  health  was  failing,  he  preached  in  the  month 
of  January,  1862,  no  less  than  seventeen  times ;  iu  the 
month  of  February,  nineteen  times;  in  the  month  of  March, 
he  was  present  during  the  session  of  the  Philadelphia  Confer- 
ence, and  preached  that  week  and  till  the  16th  of  April,  no 
less  than  twenty-three  sermons,  in  Philadelphia  and  vicinity. 
This  was  his  last  visit  to  the  church  of  Philadelphia.  Open- 
ing his  commission  at  Wharton  street,  from  Numbers  35  :  12 
and  closing  it  at  Central,  from  Gal.  6 :  14.  After  leaving 
Philadelphia,  he  preached  but  eleven  sermons.  During  the 
month  of  March  he  preached  twenty-one  times  ;  in  April  six- 
teen times  ;  in  May  but  four  times  ;  in  June  and  July  he  was 
unable  to  preach  ;  in  August  he  preached  on  the  6th,  at 
Denton  Camp  Meeting.,  After  this  he  preached  but  twice : 
on  the  24th,  at  Georgetown,  from  Luke  11 :  32,  and  on  Sept- 
ember 28th,  1862,  at  Fayette  st.  M.  E.  Church,  iu  Baltimore, 
Maryland,  Psalms  139  :  23-24, 

Being  convinced  that  his  end  was  near,  he  sought  a  place 
of  rest  and  quiot,  away  from  noise  and  bustle,  in  which  to 


110  SKETCH  OF 

close   his    days ;  such    he    found    in    the   hospitable  home  of 
Charles  Reese,  of  Penningtonville,  Pa. 

How  like  the  patriarchs  of  old,  recognizing  that  the  time  of 
his  departure  was  at  hand,  breathes  the  following  expression 
of  his  feeling,  and  wishes  in  regard  to  the  rapidly  approach- 
ing, yet  recognized  end  of  life,  in  a  letter  to  Brother  Ileese. 

Baltimore,  August  ISth,  1862. 
DEAR  BKO.  REESE. 

The  Lord  in  great  goodness  and  mercy,  has  laid  His 
kind  hand  of  affliction  upon  his  very  unprofitable  servant, 
with  whose  manners  he  has  borne  long,  lo,  these  many 
years,  and  I  desire  to  feel  as  grateful  for  the  rod,  as  for  the 
staff,  for  affliction  as  for  health,  well  knowing  that  God  has 
done,  and  will  do  all  things  well.  He  has  spared  me  to  a 
good  old  age,  and  has  dealt  bountifully  with  me.  It  would 
therefore,  be  ungrateful  in  me,  not  to  receive  affliction  with  a 
thankful  heart. 

I  have  no  objection  to  closing  my  long  career  on  earth, 
except  that  I  feel  ashamed  of  myself,  that  I  have  been  so  un- 
profitable a  servant ;  yes,  I  also  regret  the  wretched  condi- 
tion of  our  highly  favored  country,  and  the  worse  condition 
of  the  church,  but  as  I  am  too  old  to  reform  myself,  and  can 
do  very  little  for  the  real  benefit  of  the  church,  or  State,  I 
bow  submissively  to  the  mandates  of  Heaven,  and  say,  good 
is  the  way  of  the  Lord.  To  depart  and  be  with  Christ  is  far 
better  than  to  remain  in  this  sin  disordered  world.  I  feel  a 
comfortable  assurance  that  that  God  who  hns  been  my  un- 
ceasing friend,  will,  when  heart  and  lip  shall  fail,  be  the 
strength  of  my  heart,  and  my  portion  forever.  I  look  for- 
ward with  fearful  apprehension  to  those  things  which  are 
coming  upon  the  world  and  the  church.  Indeed  the  church 
will  be  doomed  to  drink  the  bitterest  cup  of  God's  wrath, 
•which  must  be  poured  out  upon  our  wicked  world  before 
Christ's  Kingdom  shall  be  established  in  universal  peace  and 
righteousness,  when  all  mankind  shall  dwell  together  as  one 
great  family  of  God,  when  there  will  be  no  discordant  sound 
heard  upon  earth,  when  righteousness  shall  cover  the  earth,  as 
the  waters  cover  the  sea.  That  glorious  day  must  and  will 
come.  The  character  of  your  Redeemer,  demands  it,  and 
the  mouth  of  the  Lord  has  spoken  it.  But  a  moment's 


JOHN  HERSEY.  Ill 

thought  will  convince  the  reflecting  mind  that  the  present  rub- 
bish of  sin  and  folly,  of  pride  and  vanity  and  worldly-minded- 
ness,  with  a  thousand  other  dark  traits  of  briers  and  thorns  must 
all  be  consumed,  must  be  burnt  up  when  Jesus  Christ  shall 
be  revealed  from  heaven  in  flames  of  fire,  taking  vengance 
on  them  that  know  not  God,  and  obey  not  the  Gospel  of  Christ. 
Oh  may  we  be  ready  for  that  fearful  day.  The  farmer  does 
not  expect  to  make  a  crop  until  he  has  cleared  the  ground 
and  burned  up  the  brush  ;  neither  can  universal  purity  prevail 
and  abound,  until  all  the  rubbish  is  destroyed.  Christ  says: 
"Ye  are  the  salt  of  the  earth"  If  therefore,  God  has  provided 
salt  to  save  the  world,  and  it  is  not  saved,  the  salt  is  the  cause. 
And  Christ  says,  if  the  salt  has  lost  its  savor,  it  is  hence- 
forth good  for  nothing,  but  to  be  cast  out  and  trodden  under 
foot  of  man.  This  declaration  should  arouse  and  alarm  the 
church.  Oh  may  the  watchmen  take  the  alarm,  and  may 
the  trumpet  no  longer  give  an  uncertain  sound.  When  in 
my  affliction  my  whole  physical  system  was  almost  paralyzed, " 
when  I  had  no  energy  left  to  read  or  write,  not  even  a  letter 
to  a  friend,  greatly  alarmed  at  the  aspect  of  things.  I  sat 
down  to  write  without  previous  plans,  without  meditation, 
without  books  (save  the  Bible),  or  authors  for  my  guide.  I 
wrote  with  more  ease,  than  I  had  ever  done  before,  until  I 
had  written  enough  to  make  a  small  book,  which  I  am  pre- 
paring for  the  press,  and  intend  to  leave  behind,  as  my  last 
warning  to  a  wicked  world,  and  a  corupt  church.  As  I  can 
have  no  personal  or  pecuniary  interest  in  the  .matter,  I  hope 
it  will  do  good,  especially  to  the  ministry,  which  I  am  sure  it 
will,  if  they  will  condescend  to  read  it.  As  I  am  laid  by, 
unable  to  preach,  and  can  hope  to  do  but  little  more  on  earth, 
and  must  very  soon  render  up  an  account  of  my  stewardship, 
I  feel  a  desire  to  retire  from  the  bustle  and  vanity  of  this 
wicked  world,  and  close  my  earthly  career  in  peace  and  quiet- 
ness. In  thus  reflecting  upon  the  condition  of  the  cities  (sinks 
of  corruption,)  and  our  distracted  and  degraded  country,  I 
have  thought  of  no  place  where  I  could  realize  my  desires  as 
fully  and  as  comfortably  as  under  your  own  roof. 

If  therefore,  you  have  a  little  room,  where  you  could  place 
me,  and  will  consent  to  accept  a  suitable  compensation  for 
my  trouble,  it  would  be  grateful  to  my  feelings,  in  my  decli- 
ning hours.  Please  write  and  let  me  know  if  such  an 
arrangement  would  meet  the  approbation,  fully  of  yourself 


112  SKETCH  OF 

aud  sister  R .     I  leave  all  however,  beyond  the  present 

moment,  where  it  should  be,  in  the  hands  of  that  God,  who 
number  the  hairs  of  our  head,  saying  I  hope  understanding- 
ly — "Thou  shalt  guide  me  with  thy  counsel,  and  afterwards- 
raise  me  to  glory."  Amen. 

Yours  affectionately, 

JOHN  HERSEY. 

Brother  Reese  writes  :  "In  reading  the  above  letter  to  my 
family,  every  ear  was  listening,  and  every  heart  bea,t  for  joy, 
to  know  that  his  request  would  be  complied  with.  So  imme- 
diately I  wrote  and  gave  him  a  hearty  welcome,  which  he 
gratefully  accepted." 

Below  will  be  seen  the  letter  of  acceptance  of  the  great 
good  man,  who  it  will  be  seen  would  not  for  a  moment  con- 
^sent  to  be  a  charge  to  any  member  of  a  church  which  he  had 
served  so  long  and  faithfully. 

.Baltimore,,  September  Isf,  1802. 
DEAR  BRO.  REESE  : 

Your  very  kind  and  affectionate  letter  of  the  28th 
ult.  has  been  duly  received.  I  feel  more  than  thankful  to  you- 
for  your  very  kind  proposition  of  Christian  love  and  friendship. 
It  is  more  than  I  deserve,  and  what  may  be  deficient  on  my 
part,  I  hope  my  merciful  Father  in  heaven  will  supply. 

There  is  only  one  omission  in  your  letter — You  say  noth- 
ing about  the  remuneration  for  the  trouble  I  shall  make  you. 
David  said  that  he  would  not  offer  a  sacrifice  that  cost  him 
nothing  ;  neither  can  I  impose  on  my  friends  for  nothing. 
This  however,  I  presume,  can  be  adjusted  when  we  meet.  I 
am  here  in  the  city  against  my  will,  where  I  have  many 
kind  friends,  whose  homes  are  freely  offered  to  me  ;  but  the 
place  and  the  worldly  feelings  of  my  friends  here,  renders  it 
an  unpleasant  home  for  my  old  age  and  fast  declining  years-. 

I  am  attending  to  the  publishing  of  another  book,  and  the 
printer  has  disappointed  me  so  often,  thai  I  do  not  know 
when  I  can  be  released  from  this  earthly  encumbrance,  per- 
haps not  for  several  weeks.  But  as  soon  as  I  can,  I  will  re- 
tire to  Penningtonville,  and  seek  a  shelter  under  your  hospit- 
able roof. 


JOHN  HERSEY  113 

My  health  is  still  very  feeble,  with  no  prospect  of  being 
better,  yet  should  it  be  at  all  restored,  I  must  occupy  my 
time  until  the  Master  comes.  All  the  future,  however,  I 
leave  where  it  should  be,  in  the  hands  of  Him,  who  knoweth 
all  things,  and  say,  I  hope  understandingly,  Father,  "Thy 
will  be  done."  If  my  health  should  improve,  which  at  pres- 
is  very  doubtful,  I  can  use  my  time  in  your  county  as  well 
perhaps,  as  elsewhere.  Let  all  behind  the  curtain  remain. 
Amen. 

I  hope  that  you  and  yours  will  ever  be  found  striving  to 
enter  in  at  the  straight  gate  which  leads  to  that  holy  city, 
whose  inhabitants  never  die — where  sin  has  never  entered, 
and  suffering  and  sorrow  and  death  are  unknown — where 
war's  blood  stained  banner  will  be  forever  furled,  and  uni- 
versal peace  and  joy  abound.  May  that  be  our  home,  our 
rest,  our  joy.  There  may  we  meet  to  go  no  more  out  for- 
ever. Amen. 

"Who  meet  on  that  eternal  shore,  shall  never  part  again." 

My  kind  respects  to  sister  R ,  and  all  the  family.     The 

good  Lord  bless  you  all  for  Christ's  s-ake. — Amen. 

Yours  affectionately, 

JOHN  HERSEY. 

Father  Hersey  before  leaving  Baltimore,  preached  on  the 
28th  of  September  at  Fayette  street  M.  E.  Church,  what 
proved  to  be  his  last  sermon.  On  the  next  day  he  appointed 
a  parting  meeting,  in  the  Sabbath  School  room,  on  the  south 
side  of  old  Light  street  Church.  It  was  a  meeting  of  preach- 
ers, and  one  of  those  occasions  never  to  be  forgotten.  Fath- 
er Hersey  was  weak — extremely  weak.  He  sat  during  his 
address ;  he  told  the  meeting  that  he  was  going  to  Pennsyl- 
vania to  die. 

I  am  a  poor  way-faring  stranger, 

A  journeying  through  this  world  of  woe  ; 

Through  sickness,  sorrow,  toil  and  danger, 
To  that  bright  world  to  which  I  go. 

I  am  going  there  to  see  my  Mother, 
I'm  going  there  no  more  to  roam, 

I'm  just  going  over  Jordan, 
I'm  just  going  over  Home. 


114  SKETCH  OF 

I  know  dark  clouds  may  gather  round  me  ; 

I  know  my  path  is  rough  and  steep  ; 
But  beauteous  fields  lie  just  before  me, 

Where  God's  redeemed  their  vigils  keep. 

I'm  going  there  to  see  my  Father, 
I'm  going  there  no  more  to  roam, 

I'm  just  going  over  Jordan, 
I'm  just  going  over  Home. 

I  want  to  sing  salvation  story 

In  concert  with  the  blood-washed  band  ; 

I  want  to  wear  a  crown  of  glory, 

When  I  get  home  to  that  Good  Land. 

I'm  going  there  to  see  my  brethren, 
I  know  they  are  near  my  Father's  throne  ; 

I'm  just  going  over  Jordan, 
I'm  just  going  over  Home. 

I  feel  my  sins  are  all  forgiven  ; 

My  thoughts  are  fixed  on  things  above  ; 
I'm  going  away  to  that  bright  heaven, 

Where  all  is  joy,  and  peace  and  love. 

I  am  going  there  to  see  my  classmates, 
They  have  gone  before  me  one  by  one, 

I'm  just  going  over  Jordan, 
I'm  just  going  over. Home. 

I'll  soon  be  free  from  every  trial ; 

My  body  will  sleep  in  the  old  church  yard  ; 
I'll  drop  the  cross  of  self-denial 

And  enter  on  my  Great  Reward. 

I'm  going  there  to  see  my  Saviour, 

I'm  going  there  no  more  to  roam  ; 
I'm  just  going  over  Jordan, 
I'm  just  going  over  Home. 

It  was  a  marvelous  parting  ;  it  would  have  made  one  of 
the  most  impressive  of  pictures. 

On  the  30th  of  September,  bidding  a  final  farewell  to  his 
friends  in  Baltimore,  he  started  for  Penningtonville,  which 
he  reached  in  safety. 

Bro.  Reese  says  when  he  arrived,  he  was  very  weak,  suffer- 
ing much  pain  in  his  stomach ;  his  disease  was  dyspepsia. 

One  week  after  his  arrival,  he  penned  the  following  lines 
to  a  dear  friend  in  Baltimore  :  an  air  of  Christian  resignation 
and  sublime  faith,  is  evinced  in  every  sentence. 


JOHN  HERSEY.  115 

PenningtonviUe,  October  GtJi,  1862. 
DEAR  BRO.  R.  T. 

Through  the  very  great  mercy  and  goodness  of  God,  my 
Saviour,  I  am  still  permitted  to  enjoy  a  place  among  the  liv- 
ing, though  much  more  connected  with  the  dead  and  dying. 
My  health  is  now  much  as  it  has  been  for  some  time  past ;  at 
times  apparently  better,  again  evidently  worse,  so  that  my 
onward  march  is  constantly  tending  to  the  grave.  Nor 
should  I  object  to  that  most  reasonable  result,  after  a  long 
life,  blessed  with  every  comfort  that  any  reasonable  being 
could  wish  or  desire.  And  though  I  have  been  a  very  un- 
profitable servant,  God  has  mercifully  borne  with  my  imper- 
fections and  has  given  me  many  and  kind  friends,  wherever 
I  have  been,  nor  will  he  cast  me  off  in  the  day  of  eternity. 

When  I  could  be  no  longer  useful  to  my  fellow  mortals,  I 
concluded  to  retire  from  the  public  scenes  of  folly  and  vanity, 
and  spend  the  close  of  my  life  in  peace  and  quietness.  God 
in  mercy  has  directed  my  steps  to  such  a  place. 

The  family  I  am  now  with,  are  the  most  pious  and  peaceful 
family  I  have  ever  known.  Not  a  loud  or  unkind  word  is 
heard  at  any  time,  and  yet  everything  moves  like  clock  work  ; 
each  one  has  his  or  her  duty  to  perform,  and  it  is  done  pleasant- 
ly and  perfectly.  The  only  difficulty  is  they  press  me  down 
with  personal  kindness — each  member  striving  to  see  who  can 
render  me  the  greatest  service,  and  make  my  life  the  most 
agreeable  and  pleasant,  as  far  at  least,  as  my  suffering  will 
admit  of. 

I  do  not  know  why  it  should  be  so,  but  all  through  my 
Christian  life,  God  has  given  me  kind  friends,  and  while  it  is 
most  pleasing  to  flesh  and  blood  to  enjoy  those  privileges,  yet 
it  is  also  most  dangerous.  Smiles  are  more  likely  to  lead  us 
astray  than  frowns.  0  may  not  the  smiles  of  friends  on 
earth,  lure  me  away  from  the  arms  and  favor  of  the  sinners' 
friend,  who  says  :  "If  any  man  will  be  my  disciple,  let  him 
deny  himself,  and  take  up  his  cross  and  follow  me."  But, 
alas,  our  fallen  nature  and  the  smiles  of  friends,  do  not  sym 
pathise  with  the  cross.  Pray  for  me  brother,  that  after  I 
have  preached  plain  gospel  truths  to  others,  I  may  not  myself 
be  a  castaway. 

That  jewel  (a  pure  heart)  is  very  valuable  and  precious  in 
the  sight  of  God,  and  none  but  the  pure  in  heart  can  see 


Ufi  SKETCH  OF 

God,  can  possess  and  enjoy  him  forever.  That  which  is  pure 
will  admit  of  no  admixture — no  self,  no  worldliness,  no 
double-mindedness,  no  love  of  the  world — its  honors,  or  its 
pleasures  can  exist  in  &  pure  heart,  that  pearl  of  great  price. 

May  this  be  our  treasure  and  glory  Bro.  T ,  that  when 

Christ  comes  to  make  up  his  jewels,  ours  may  be  found  pure. 
Even  the  little  queen  of  England  would  not  wear  a  mock 
jewel,  in  her  earthly  crown,  which  must  soon  fall  to  the 
ground  and  be  mingled  with  the  .dust ;  how  unreasonable 
then  to  suppose  the  Lord  Jesus,  the  King  of  kings,  and 
Lord  of  lords  would  place  an  impure  gem  in  his  eternal 
crown  of  power  and  splendour  and  glory. 

My  dear  brother,  let  us  be  careful  so  to  live,  that  when 
the  Master  conies  to  demand  an  account  of  our  stewardship, 
we  may  be  prepared  to  respond  promptly,  when  He  asks  the 
question,  "Why  have  you  done  this  thing  to  please  the 
Lord  Jesus,  not  self,  not  the  world,  but  to  please  Him,  who 
died  to  save  our  souls  from  death  and  hell  ?"  Your  principal 
danger  like  my  own,  lies  chiefly  in  the  smiles  of  the  world, 
and  in  ardent  love  for  your  family.  How  hard,  oh  how  hard 
to  resist  the  importunity  of  those  we  love ;  and  how  hard  to 
see  in  them  even  one  blemish.  To  act  faithfully  and  impar- 
tially in  the  fear  of  God,  in  these  things  will  require  the 
constant  aid  of  God's  Holy  Spirit,  and  the  grace  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  to  enlighten  our  minds  and  strengthen  our 
faith.  I  hope  the  good  Lord  will  have  you  and  all  your 
kind  family  in  His  holy  care  continuously,  and  reward  you 
all  richly  for  your  unremitting  and  almost  unlimited  kind- 
ness to  one  of  the  least  of  your  Master's  servants  on  earth. 
Oh  may  we  meet  in  our  Father's  house  above,  beyond  the 
reach  of  war,  of  sin  and  death,  where  not  a  cup  of  cold 
water  given  to  Christ's  least  disciples  will  be  forgotton. 

Please  write  to  me  in  my  obscurity,  when  you  can  find 
leisure  to  do  so.  Grace,  mercy  and  peace  from  God,  the 
Father,  and  from  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  be  with  you  and 
jours  evermore.  Amen. 

Yours  aifectionately, 

JOHN  HERSEY 

} 

A  few  days  later,  he,  wrote  the  following  cheerful  letter  to 
Iris  friend : 


JOHN  HERSEY.  117 

Penmnytom-iUe,  Chester  Co.,  Oct.  Wth.  1862. 

DEAR  BRO.  T.  M.  C. 

Through  the  forbearing  and  wonderful  mercy,  and* 
goodness  of  God,  my  poor  life  is  still  spared,  I  hope  for 
some  wise  purpose,  which  none  but  He  who  knoweth  all 
things  knows.  '  I  greatly  desire  to  lie  at  the  foot  of  the  cross,, 
having  no  will  or  desire  of  rny  own,  either  for  life  or  death, 
either  for  sickness  or  health,  but  Thy  will,  oh  God  be  done. 

I  have  retired  from  the  noise  .and  bustle  and  folly  of  the- 
cities  and  towns,  and  have  found  a  quiet  and  peaceable  spot 
to  close  my  earthly  days,  where  I  find  a  greater  opportunity 
of  doing  good,  than  in  the  cities — where  the  ministers  of  the 
church  shut  up  thej  way  to  heaven,  not  willing  to  go  in 
themselves,  nor  suffer  others  to  enter  by  that  only  doorr 
Christ  crucified. 

Here  many  call  to  see  me  to  whom  I  can  speak  freely  and 
profitably.  Both  Baptist  and  Presbyterian  ministers  have 
been  to  see  me,  manifesting  the  greatest  regard  for  me,  for 
which  I  feel  thankful,  and  point  them  to  the  narrow  way,  in 
which  few  are  willing  to  walk.  The  family  with  whom  I 
stop  are  plain,  pious  industrious  people  ;  everything  works- 
like  clock-work,  yet  not  one  loud  or  unkind  word  is  ever 
heard.  My  greatest  difficulty  is,  that  they  weigh  me  dowa 
with  kindness.  This  however  has  been  my  doom  all  through 
life.  Oh,  may  not  the  smiles  of  friends  on  earth  lead  me 
away  for  one  moment  from  the  arms  of  the  sinners'  Friend 
in  heaven.  Pray  for  me  brother,  that  after  I  have  preached 
plain  gospel  truths  to  others,  I  may  not  be  myself  a  casta- 
way. 

Oh  may  I  be  permitted  to  meet  all  my  kind  friends,  inclu- 
ding you  and  your  family,  ia  heaven,  when  the  storms  of 
this  wicked  world  shall  all  have  blown  over.  We  live  in  a» 
evil  day,  when  it  will  require  more  faith  and  watchfulness 
and  zeal  and  faithfulness  than  at  any  former  period  of  our 
world's  history.  Our  privileges  mount  up  to  heaven,  and 
yet  I  fear  our  sins  and  follies  out-top  them  all.  Oh  may  we- 
who  at  least  in  part  see  the  way,  the  old  path,  be  enabled  to 
walk  therein,  through  the  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
that  thereby  we  may  enter  into  that  rest,  prepared  for  the- 
people  of  God.  May  you  and  I  and  all  your  little  family 


118  SKETCH  OF 

meet  there  to  go  out  no  more  forever.  I  presume  we  shall 
meet  no  more  on  earth.  Well  it  will  not  be  long  that  flesh 
and  blood,  and  hills  and  dales  and  distance  will  separate  the 
friends  of  Jesus.  Be  thou  faithful  until  death  and  Jesus 
says,  "I  will  give  thee  a  crown  of  life."  Amen.  Lord  help  us 
to  act  wisely  and  promptly  and  faithfully  that  we  may  hear 
the  Righteous  Judge  of  all  the  earth  say,  "Well  done  good 
and  faithful  servant,  enter  into  thy  Father's  joys  in  heaven." 

Write  soon  and  often.  My  health  is  so  feeble  that  writing 
exhausts  my  little  strength.  My  kind  respects  and  love  to 

sister  C and  children,  Bro.   M and  family,   and  all 

my  Christian  friends.  The  good  Lord  bless  and  save  you  all 
in  His  everlasting  Kingdom  for  Jesus'  sake.  Amen. 

Yours  in  love, 

JOHNHERSEY. 

About  four  weeks  before  his  decease,  being  much  better, 
he  concluded  to  go  to  Philadelphia,  thinking  perhaps  he 
could  obtain  some  medicine  from  some  of  the  physicians  that 
might  do  him  some  good ;  his  purpose  was  to  go  to  the 
preachers'  meeting,  and  give  them  his  dying  advice,  but  he  was 
so  feeble  that  he  was  unable  to  attend  the  meeting.  He  also 
intended  to  spend  a  few  days  with  his  half  sister  in  Delaware 
City  :  his  health  continued  to  get  worse,  and  he  had  to  aban- 
don the  visit  and  return  to  his  home  in  Penningtonville  to 
wind  up  the  toils  of  an  eventful  life. 

Shortly  after,  his  health  rallying,  he  paid  a  visit  to  Phila- 
delphia, and  writes  his  last^  letter  to  his  friend  Reese.  His 
physical  weakness  is  apparent  in  every  sentence. 

Philadelphia,  October  VI tit,  1862. 
DEAR  BRO.  REESE  : 

My  health  still  continues  very  feeble,  sometimes  it  ap- 
pears to  be  better,  again,  evidently  worse,  so  that  my  steps 
are  bearing  me  steadily  and  rapidly  down  to  the  brink  of 
Jordan.  Oh  may  I  be  prepared  ,to  cross  over  like  Joshua,  or 
Elijah,  and  leave  this  wicked,  warring,  rebellious  'world  be- 
hind. Amen.  I  have  not  yet  deemed  it  prudent  to  go  down 
to  Delaware  City,  Delaware,  to  see  my  sister,  and  have  con- 


JOHN  HERSEY.  119 

eluded  to  remain  in  this  city,  until  next  week,  when  it  is  my 
wish,  if  able  to  attend  the  preachers'  meeting,  and  give  them 
a  few  plain  words  of  counsel.  Perhaps  a  word  from  the  lips 
of  a  dying  man,  may  be  attended  with  beneficial  results.  If 
my  strength  will  permit  of  it,  I  design  going  to  Delaware 
City  next  (Monday  evening,  or  Tuesday,  where  I  may  re- 
main only  a  day,  or  two,  after  which  I  shall  endeavor  to  re- 
turn home.  There  I  expect  to  close  my  long  earthly  career 
under  your  roof  and  in  the  bosom  of  your  family,  with  whom 
I  shall  confidently  hope  to  spend  an.  unending  eternity  be- 
yond the  reach  of  war  and  sin  and  suffering  of  every  kind, 
when  and  where  alone  you  will  be  rewarded  for  all  your 
kindness  shown  to  one  of  the  least  of  all  your  Master's  ser- 
vants on  earth.  Oh  may  we  meet  there,  and  all  will  be  well 
forever. 

"Who  meet  on  that  eternal  shore, 
Shall  never  part  again." 

Thank  tlfe  Lord,  bless  and  praise  ITis  holy  name  forever. 
Should  nothing  prevent,  you  may  expect  me  home  sometime 
next  week.  I  say  home;  I  have  no  other  on  this  side  of  the 
swelling  tide,  but  I  humbly  hope  to  have  a  better  home, 
when  all  the  storms  of  this  evil  world  shall  have  blown  over. 
Amen . 

Let  us  meet  there,  where  there  is  room  enough  and  to 
spare,  where  not  a  cup  of  cold  water  given  to  one  of  Christ's 
disciples  will  be  forgotten  I  am  very  weak  and  must  say 
farewell. 

My  love  to  all  your  kind  family.  The  good  Lord  bless 
jou  all. 

Yours  respectfully, 

JOHN  HERSEY. 

Before  starting  on  his  return  to  Pennirigtonville  on  the 
evening  of  October  21st,  1802,  he  wrote  the  following  letter 
to  a  dear  friend  in  Baltimore.  This  letter  written  less  than 
four  weeks  before  his  death,  breathing  in  every  line  and  sen- 
tence, his  consciousness  thereof  and  his  acquiesence  therein, 
assumes  somewhat  the  character  of  a  last  will  and  testament, 
and  invokes  the  attention  as  it  challenges  the  admiration  of 
all  who  admire  consistency  in  a  man,  fidelity  in  a  friend,  de- 
votion and  untiring  energy  in  a  minister,  and  sublime  faith 


120  SKETCH  OF 

the  nearest  unquestionable  approach,  certainly  since  the  days 
•of  the  Apostles,  to  perfect  santification  in  a  Christian. 

Philadelphia,  Oct.  21st,  1862. 
DEAR  Buo.  II.  T. 

Please  apply  the  amount  of  the  enclosed  check  of 
4$35.88  to  my  account,  to  be  disposed  of  after  my  decease  as 
.previously  arranged,  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor.  Money 
from  the  sale  of  books,  comes  in  slowly.  Many  are  afraid  to 
read  the  new  book,  others  are  prejudiced  against  the  source 
from  whence  it  originates.  If  however,  the  present  gloomy 
scenes  being  transacted  in  our  country,  and  I  may  add  in  the 
whole  world,  continues  much  longer,  the  people  will  begin 
to  think  that  the  hand  of  God  is  upon  us  for  evil,  which  may/ 
cause  them  to  investigate  the  cause  and  cure  of  our  disasters. 
I  have  been  in  Philadelphia  for  eight  or  ten  days  past,  but 
ex*peet  to  return  this  evening  to  my  home  on  earth  for  a  few 
dajs,  or  moments.  My  health  is  no  better,  and.if  no  change 
for  the  better  takes  place,  must  very  soon  close  my  long  and 
unprofitable  career  on  earth.  I  have  given  my  kind  friend, 
Chas.  Reese,  directions  to  have  my  poor  earthly  remains  laid 
away,  with  as  little  expense  and  parade  as  possible,  and  have 
requested  him  after  my  decease,  to  let  you  know  the  amount 
that  will  be  due  for  my  board,  and  all  other  necessary  expenses. 
He  is  a  good  and  faithful  man,  and  will  not  make  an  improp- 
er statement.  I  am  sure  you  will  take  pleasure  in  attending 
to  this  matter.  I  have  now  but  few  desires,  or  wishes  to 
gratify  ;  the  first  would  be  to  see  the  church  which  Christ 
has  purchased  with  his  own  precious  blood,  made  pure  and 
holy  and  spotless,  walking  in  perfect  unity  together  in  all 
the  commandments  and  ordinances  of  the  whole  earth,  un- 
blameable  and  unreproachable  in  His  sight.  This  would  soon 
save  the  whole  world,  and  transform  our  poor  distracted, 
wicked  world  into  the  Paradise  of  God  on  earth.  My  sec- 
ond desire  would  be  to  see  all  my  more  than  kind  Christian 
friends,  who  have  ministered  freely  and  bountifully  to  all  my 
••earthly  wants,  filled  with  all  the  fullness  of  Christ's  redeem- 
ing love,  richly  clothed  with  the  garments  of  salvation,  and 
•covered  with  the  robes  of  righteousness,  and  then  in  heaven 
rewarded  with  a  crown  of  undecaying  glory,  and  hear  the 
Righteous  Judge  say,  "In  as  much  as  ye  have  done  it  unto 
one  of  the  least  of  these  mv  brethren,  ye  have  done  it  unto 
Me." — Amen.  So  may  it  be. 


JOHN  HERSEY.  121 

Give  my  kind  respects  and  love  to  sister  T and  the 

•children,  to  father  and  mother  and  friends  in  the  Lord.  Oh, 
that  I  may  see  you  all,  in  a  brighter  and  better  world.  For 
•Jesus'  sake.  Amen. 

Yours  affectionately, 

JOHN  HERSEY. 

The  last  work  of  his  pen  is  the  following  unfinished  letter 
addressed  to  Rev.  C.  B.  Tippet,  deceased,  late  of  the  Baltimore 
Conference,  bearing  date  October  31st,  1862.  A  part  of 
this  letter  was  written  by  Father  Hersey  one  week  before  his 
death  ;  realizing  that  he  was  too  weak  to  finish  it,  he  wrote  on 
the  margin,  the  words  "'Tis  too  late." 

Ptnningtonville,  Oct.  31  st,  1862. 
DEAR  BRO.  TIPPET: 
'  Tis  too  late. 

"So  I  thought  and  believed  a  few  days  since  I  had 
promised  to  write  to  you,  but  like  poor  sinners,  I  had  defer- 
red to  do  so  until  I  believed  it  was  too  late,  and  even  now  I 
•write  more  like  a  dead  man  than  a  living  man.  But  after 
much  suffering,  the  God  of  all  grace  and  truth,  hath  (as  He 
has  done  all  through  life)  dealt  bountifully  with  his  unprofit- 
able servant.  Through  the  mercy  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
He  has  not  only  enabled  me  to  demolish  that  most  dangerous  idol 
— self,  not  only  to  cast  him  to  the  ground,  but  to  have  him  cruci- 
fied; as  certainly  as  Christ  was  literally  crucified  for  us,  so  must 
we  be  as  certainty  crucified  with  him.  I  awoke  in  the  night 
from  the  arms  of  death,  and  was  enabled  by  the  grace  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  to  despise  and  condemn  all — yes,  all  my 
good  works,  and  trample  them  all  under  my  feet,  in  holy 
triumph,  giving  to  God,  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  all — 
yes  all,  the  merit,  or  good  works  I  have  ever  done,  and  by 
the  omnipotent  arm  of  faith  claim  perfect  redemption  through 
the  blood  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Though  I  was  too 
weak  to  stand  up  without  support,  yet,  in  the  midnight  hour, 
I  felt  not  only  like  shouting  victory  to  God  and  the  Lamb, 
but  as  though  I  could  shake  the  empire  of  darkness  through 
the  unlimited  power  of  Jesus'  grace.  If  therefore,  you  hear 
any  one  say  that  your  old  friend  J.  Hersey,  expected  to 


122  SKETCH  OF 

reach  heaven,  through  the  slightest  degree  of  merit  attached 
to  his  own  works,  you  may  give  it  an  unqualified  contradic- 
tion, or  if  you  hear  any  one  say  that  myself,  or  any  other 
person  will  ever  enter  into  heaven  with  one  spot  or  wrinkle 
upon  their  garments — that  will  be  equally  untrue.  I  fear 
God  and  honor  the  King.  I  preach  Christ  as  an  all-sufficient 
Saviour ;  that  his  blood  applied  by  faith,  can  and  will  wash 
out  every  stain,  even  the  slightest  spot  or  stain  of  selfishness 
or  pride,  or  ambition.  The  love  of  the  world  in  any  of  its 
modifications  must  and  will  shut  us  out  of  heaven,  even  a  de- 
sire to  shine  as  an  orator  ;  ambition  can  no  more  be  received 
into  heaven,  than  the  love  of  the  world — its  gold,  or  silver, 
or  honor,  or  desire  of  applause.  These  all  belong  to  the 
beast,  and  where  they  are  found  in  any  degree,  they  will 
identify  us  with  Satan,  and  exclude  us  from  God,  and  the 
word  of  his  power  forever. 

Surely    God   has   dealt  bountifully  with  his   unprofitable 
servant." 

Bro.  Charles  Reese,  by  letter,  gives  the  following  informa- 
tion of  his  last  days ;  "He  came  to  my  house  Tuesday,  Sept. 
30th,  1862  ;  the  Sabbath  morning  after,  he  was  very  ill  in- 
deed. We  thought  for  a  while  he  would  die,  but  soon  he 
revived  and  was  much  better.  The  Presbyterians  had  their 
Sacramental  occasion  that  Sabbath ;  he  said  he  appreciated 
the  Sacrament  very  much,  and  would  like  to  receive  it  once 
more,  before  he  went  hence.  I  got  a  carriage  and  took  him  to 
the  church  ;  he  communed  with  them.  After  the  communion, 
he  gave  a  short  but  pointed  address.  In  the  afternoon  he  went 
over  to  our  church  and  heard  Brother  Jones  (our  young 
preacher.)  He  also  spoke  after  Bro.  Jones  with  a  good  deal 
of  energy.  This  I  believe  was  the  last  of  his  public  speak- 
ing. He  led  in  the  family  devotions,  morning  and  evening, 
in  his  usual  manner,  exhorting  all  present  after  reading,  then 
a  fervent  prayer  to  the  throne  of  grace  for  a  blessing.  He  con- 
tinued to  do  so  until  within  two  weeks  of  his  death,  he  being 
too  weak  to  continue  it  any  longer.  He  was  very  thankful 
for  any  little  favor  done ;  he  would  say.  "Thank  you." 
When  the  family  was  about  to  retire  he  would  take  all  by 
the  hand,  and  pronounce  a  blessing  on  them,  and  impress  a 
holy  kiss  on  each,  and  bid  them  good  night.  I  would  then 
take  charge  of  him  during  the  night ;  I  shall  never  forget 
those  nights.  Among  his  sayings,  I  have  preserved  the  fol- 


JOHN  HERSEY.  123 

lowing  :  at  one  time  in  the  middle  of  the  night,  the  Lord 
blessed  him  most  powerfully.  He  said,  "Oh  that  I  had  strength 
and  voice  to  shout  the  praise  of  God.  Hallelujah,  hallelu- 
jah, praise  the  Lord,  oh  my  soul,  and  all  that  is  within  me 
rejoice  and  bless  His  holy  name.  Oh  that  I  could  stand  on 
some  eminence,  and  with  the  voice  of  an  angel  _ proclaim  sal- 
vation to  a  lost  world."  Thus  we  can  see  that  the  burden  of 
his  heart  was  for  the  salvation  of  the  world.  In  conver- 
sation, he  said  he  was  sure  he  had  not  run  before  he  was 
called  (meaning  bis  call  to  the  ministry r)  for  said  he,  I  felt 
when  a  sinner,  I  should  be  a  Methodist  Preacher,  and  that 
seemed  to  mortify  my  pride.  Again,  "How  unworthy  I  am; 
but  Christ  alone  is  worthy  ;  poor,  poor ;  rich,  rich ;  having 
Christ,  I  have  all  things.  Oh  that  I  had  a  congregation  and 
strength,  I  would  preach  Christ  and  hold  Him  up  before  them 
as  an  all-sufficient  Saviour,  and  the  only  refuge  for  poor  fallen 
men." 

On  November  13th  he  asked  what  day  it  was  ;  he  was  told 
it  was  Thursday.  He  replied,  "Oh,  I  think  I  shall  spend  my 
Sabbath  in  heaven." 

In  bidding  farewell  to  some  friends  who  had  called  in  to 
see  him,  hfe  said  to  them,  "Farewell,  hold  on  to  Christ.  God 
bless  you." 

During  the  day  he  seemed  very  happy,  but  frequently  said 
"Unworthy,"  and  would  exclaim,  "Thank  God  I  have  been 
enabled  to  take  self  down  ;  yes,  from  the  very  stump,  and 
Christ  set  up." 

On  November  14th,  when  asked  by  my  wife  if  he  would 
have  a  little  supper,  he  replied,  "I  shall  sup  in  my  Father's 
house  above.  Jesus  smiles  and  bids  me  come." 

Where  everlasting  Spring  abides, 

And  never  withering  flowers; 
Death,  like  a  narrow  sea,  divides 

This  heavenly  land  from  ours. 

"Oh  sister,  what  a  shout  there  will  be  when  I  see  you  come 
up  there" 

In  one  of  his  spells  of  suffering,  he  said,  "Farewell,  vain 
world,  I'm  going  home."  He  frequently  would  ask  us  to  sing 
one  hymn  he  seemed  to  love  so  much,  and  said  sing 


124  SKETCH  OF 

WHEN  FOR  ETERNAL  WORLDS  I  STEER. 

When  for  eternal  worlds  I  steer, 
And  seas  are  calm  and  skies  are  clear, 
And  faith  in  lively  exercise, 
And  distant  hills  of  Canaan  rise  ; 
My  soul  for  joy  then  claps  her  wings, 
And  loud  her  lovely  sonnet  sings, 
I'm  going  home. 

With  cheerful  heart  her  ej-es  explore, 
Each  land-mark  on  the  distant  shore, 
The  tree  of  life,  the  pastures  green, 
The  pearly  gates,  the  crystal  stream  ; 
Again  for  joy  she  claps  her  wings, 
And  loud  her  lovely  sonnet  sings  ; 
I'm  almost  home. 

The  nearer  still  she  draws  to  land, 
Each  moment  all  her  powers  expand 
With  steady  helm  and  free  bent  sails, 
Her  anchor  drops  within  the  vale  : 
With  holy  joy  she  folds  her  wings, 
And  her  celestial  sonnet  sings  ; 
I'm  safe  at  home. 

The  last  word  we  heard  him  speak,  that  we  ^could  under- 
stand, when  he  was  dying,  was  "Salvation;"  he  tried  to  say 
more,  but  could  not. 

This  unique  document  is  the  last  will  and  testament  of  the 
departed  divine. 

JOHN  HERSEY'S  LAST  REQUEST. 

It  is  my  wish  and  positive  instructions,  that  should  I  be 
permitted  to  close  my  earthly  career  under  the  roof  of  my 
kind  friend,  Charles  Reese,  that  he  will  have  my  poor  earthly 
body  enclosed  in  a  very  plain  pine,  or  poplar  coffin,  and  de- 
posited (if  there  be  room)  in  his  lot  in  the  Methodist  grave 
yard,  in  Penningtonville,  and  as  few  people  to  attend,  as  will 
be  sufficient  for  the  occasion,  or  at  least  with  as  little  show 
and  parade  as  possible.  I  wish  no  funeral  sermon  preached 
on  the  occasion,  but  a  few  appropriate  remarks  when  the  body 
is  interred. 

I  also  wish  and  direct  said  C.  Reese,  to  take  what  money 
he  may  find  in  my  pocket  book  and  purse,  for  the  payment  of 
all  expenses,  and  should  there  not  be  enough  to  defray  all 
expenses  and  compensate  for  his  trouble,  I  request  Robert 
Turner,  merchant,  South  Frederick  St.,  Baltimore,  to  pay 


JOHN  HEESEY.  125 

promptly  the  balance.  After  these  things  are  attended  to 
and  not  before,  let  "Win  Welsh  know  of  my  death  and  burial. 
I  wish  especially  that  iny  watch  shall  be  sent  by  some  safe, 
conveyance  to  Robert  AVilson,  whose  mother  lives  at  No.  434 
West  Lombard  street,  Baltimore. 

I  further  request  that  Bro.  Reese  and  his  family  love  and 
fear  God  and  keep  all  His  commandments,  and  meet  me  in 
heaven. 

JOHN  HERSEY. 

I  will  endeavor  as  far  as  practicable,  to  comply  with  the 
above  request  and  directions. 

Signed,  CHARLES  REESE. 

The  following  letter  conveyed  the  sad  tidings  of  his  de- 
mise, to  his  sorrowing  and  anxious  friends  in  Baltimore. 

Penningtonville,  Nov.  21s?,  1862. 
MR.  WM.  WELSH. — Dear  Sir  : 

In  accordance  with  the  request  of  our  venerable 
friend  and  father,  John  Hersey,  I  hereby  inform  you  that  he 
departed  this  life,  on  Monday  morning  the  17th  inst.,  at 
twenty  minutes  past  twelve  o'clock,  in  full  triumph  of  a 
blissful  immortality  and  eternal  life  beyond  the  grave.  His 
remains  according  to  his  directions,  were  quietly  and  peaceful- 
ly interred  (in  my  lot  which  had  never.4been  broken,)  in  the 
burying  ground  connected  with  the  M.  E.  Church  of.  this 
village.  His  suffering  .was  very  great,  especially  during  the 
last  four  weeks,  continuing  until  the  forenoon  of  the  Sabbath, 
which  was  his  last. 

He  slept  soundly  and  was  only  awakened  at  intervals  by 
intense  pain,  but  in  the  after  part  of  the  day,  and  at  night 
there  was  no  more  sleep,  for  suffering  ;  yet  there  was  not  a 
murmur  escaped  his  lips,  whilst  all  praises  were  given  to  his 
Redeemer.  It  was  evident  to  all  after  night  set  in  (indeed 
we  looked  all  day  for  him  to  die),  that  the  vital  spark  of  life 
was  about  to  go  out,  yet  it  continued  to  burn  until  the  turn 
of  the  night  as  stated  before. 

At  one  time,  in  the  middle  of  the  night,  some  two  weeks 
before  his  death,  he  sat  up  in  his  bed,  no  one  being  present 
but  myself  (for  I  was  with  him  in  his  room,  and  watched  and 


126  SKETCH     OF 

attended  to  him,  during  his  sickness,  I  mean  in  the  night), 
when  the  Lord  blessed  him  and  made  him  happy.  He  shout- 
ed aloud  and  said,  "Praise  the  Lord,  oh  my  soul,  and  all 
that  is  within  me  bless  His  holy  name,  hallelujah,  hallelujah. 
Oh  that  I  had  voice  and  strength  to  shout  the  praise  of  God." 
Then  would  j  say,  '  'Poor !  poor !  poor  !  rich !  rich !  rich  !" 

Again,  would  he  say,  "Farewell,  vain  world,  I  am  going 
home ;  iny  Saviour  smiles  and  bids  me  come." 

On  Friday,  my  wife  asked  him  if  he  would  have  some- 
thing to  eat;  shaking  his  head,  he  replied,  "Oh  no,  the  next 
meal,  I  shall  eat  at  home  in  my  Father's  house  above,  "Where 
everlasting  Spring  abides,  and  never  withering  flowers ;  death 
like  a  narrow  sea,  divides  this  heavenly  land  from  ours." 
And  oh  sister,  what  a  shout  there  will  be,  when  I  see  you 
come  up  there."  Many  were  his  precious  sayings,  the  last  of 
which,  when  dying,  was  'Salvation.'  He  tried  to  say  more, 
but  could  not.  There  was  no  struggle  in  death  ;  just  a  little 
move  of  the  muscles  of  his  face,  and  all  was  over.  Thus, 
was  the  end  of  the  good  man  of  God.  He  now  rests  from 
his  labors.  "Blessed  are  the  dead,  who  die  in  the  Lord." 

Yours  affectionately, 

CHARXES  REESE. 

N.  B.« — I  could  say  much  more,  but  enough  has  been  said. 
He  was  perfectly  rational  to  the  last.  He  often  spoke  of  the 
kindness  of  yourself  and  wife  in  ministering  to  him,  whilst 
with  you.  Oh  let  us  all  try  to  meet  him  in  heaven.  May 
God  help  us  so  to  do,  Amen. 

C.  R. 

We  subjoin  the  following  letter  from  the  Rev.  I.  R.  Mer- 
rill, which  will  commend  itself  to  the  attention  of  our  readers  : 

COATKSVILLE,  DEC.  oth,  1862. 

An  hour  with  the  Rev.  John  Htrsfij,  twelve  days  before  he 
left  the  Kingdom  of  Grace  for  the  Kingdom  of  Glory. 

When  I  heard  that  the  Rev.  John  Hersey  was  in  my  neigh- 
borhood, and  was  not  expected  to  live  long,  I  availed  myself 
of  the  first  opportunity  to  visit  him.  When  I  arrived  at  Bro. 
Reese's  house,  in  Penningtonville,  Chester  Co.,  Pa.,  where  he 
had  come  to  spend  the  remainder  of  his  days,  I  was  inform- 


JOHN  HERSEY.  127 

ed  that  his  physician  had  forbidden  persons  seeing  him,  yet, 
when  my  name  was  annnounced  to  him,  (he  being  a  little 
better,)  I  was,  by  hisMirection,  invited  in.  When  I  entered 
the  room  he  was  sitting  on  an  easy  chair ;  as  I  approached 
him,  .1  said,  "I  am  happy  to  see  you  sitting  up.  I  hope  you 
are  better."  "Yes,"  said  he,  "lam  better,  thank  the  Lord; 
but  I  am  very  feeble-"  He  loooked  me  in  the  face  as  I  held 
his  hand,  and  said  with  peculiar  emotion  and  emphasis,  "I 
am  glad  to  see  you,  take  a  seat."  I  felt  I  was  in  the  presen- 
ce of  the  true  Christian  Philosopher.  I  asked  him  if  he  needed 
anything  for  his  temporal  comfort ;  for,  said  I,  "You  have  many 
friends  who  would  gladly  minister  to  your  wants,  if  they  but 
had  an  opportunity."  A  tear  of  gratitude  rolled  down  his 
cheek,  and  he  said,  "Thanks  to  the  Lord  for  friends.  My 
wants  are  all  supplied.  I  have  a  friend  in  Baltimore  who 
will  take  care  of  me  the  remnant  of  my  days,  and  see  that  I 
want  no  earthly  comfort."  I  then  asked  him  what  was  the 
state  of  his  mind  in  a  spiritual  point  of  view.  He  replied, 
that,  "Through  the  abundant  mercy  of  God,  in  Christ  Jesus, 
he  felt  that  he  was  accepted  of  God.  My  brother,  I  have  only 
one  regret,  that  I  have  not  done  more  for  my  Lord  and  Mas- 
ter." This  remark  led  me  to  ask  him  some  questions  in  re- 
ference to  ministerial  usefulness,  or  what  course  we,  as  minis- 
ters, should  pursue,  to  make  us  more  useful :  admitting  that 
the  minister  is  truly  called  of  God,  and  has  the  anointing  unc- 
tion from  the  Holy  One.  He  paused,  and  said,  "Pastoral 
visiting  in  the  true  spirit  of  a  minister  of  Jesus  Christ ;  tal- 
king religion  to  the  people ;  reading  and  expounding  the  word 
of  God,  with  prayer,  as  we  have  opportunity  in  their  families, 
is  a  means  of  usefulness,  and  cannot  fail  to  render  a  minister 
more  acceptable  to,  and  useful  among  his  people."  Then 
said  he,  "Brother,  we  have  too  much  formality  in  the  pulpit, 
and  out  of  it.  We  want  more  simplicity  and  spirituality  in  our 
preaching.  We  want  more  of  the  merit  that  was  in  Christ 
Jesus,  more  of  the  spirit  of  true  Christian  sacrifice,  more 
self-denial,  &c."  I  then  asked  him  if  he  had  his  arrange- 
ments made  for  his  funeral  in  the  event  of  his  death.  He 
said  he  had  directed  to  be  put  away  in  as  plain  a  manner  as 
possible  ;  "I  wish  as  little  formality  as  can  be:  I  dread'  for- 
mality. I  don't  wish  any  sermon  preached  at  my  funeral. 
If  you  can  be  present,  I  wish  you  to  make  a  few  remarks." 
He  named  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bunker,  of  the  Baptist  Church,  Pas- 


128  SKETCH  OF 

terfield  and  others,  whom  he  desired  to  be  present  and  partic- 
ipate in  the  funeral  exercises.  He  then  said,  "My  strength 
is  failing,  have  prayer  with  me."  I  took  the  Bible,  and 
read  a  part  of  the  eighth  chapter  of  Romans,  commencing 
with  the  fourteenth  and  closing  with  the  twenty-eighth  verse 
of  the  chapter,  "And  we  know  that  all  things  work  together 
for  good  to  them  that  love  God,  to  them  who  are  the  called 
according  to  his  purpose".  I  asked  him  what  he  had  to  say 
to  that.  He  replied  "It  is  true,  it  is  true."  We  then  engaged 
in  prayer  and  truly  our  fellowship  was  with  the  Father  and 
the  Son  and  the  Holy  Spirit. 

The  opening  heaven  around  us  shone 
With  beams  of  sacred  bliss  ; 
Whilst  Jesus  showed  his  mercy  ours, 
And  whispered  we  were  His." 

I  then  helped  him  to  his  bed  and  said,  "Peace  be  with  you." 
He  replied,  "The  Lord  bless  you.  Come  and  see  me  again." 

Rev.  W.  T.  Bunker  of  the  Baptist  Church,  writes  as  fol- 
lows. 

During  the  last  illness  of  Father  Hersey,  I  visited  him  fre- 
quently, and  always  found  him  to  be  what  you  all  know  he 
was — a  matured  Christian  in  his  judgment,  his  views  and  his 
character  Christ  crucified  was  his  continual  theme,  and  sal- 
vation through  unmerited  grace  his  homely  song.  His  hope 
of  acceptance  with  Christ,  he  said,  was  unshaken,  though 
temporary  clouds  flitted  across  his  mind.  His  sufferings  were 
intense,  and  I  ventured  to  suggest,  that  possibly,  his  physical 
disease  might  have  something  to  do  with  his  momentary 
gloom ;  to  which  he  replied  in  his  characteristic  manner, 
"Perhaps,  and  if  so,  it  is  a  part  of  my  Saviour's  discipline  to 
make  me  meet  for  His  Kingdom ;"  quoting  at  the  time  these 
two  beautiful  passages :  "Whom  the  Lord  loveth,  He  chas- 
teneth  ;"  and  "Our  light  affliction  which  is  but  for  a  moment, 
maketh  for  us  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of 
glory  ;"  laying  particular  and  peculiar  emphasis  on  the  phrase 
•"maketh."  The  last  interview  I  had  with  him,  when  I  under- 
stood what  was  apparent  to  me,  that  his  last  hour  had  nearly 
come,  and  quoted  for  his  encouragement,  the  dying  words  of 
the  sainted  Payson  ;  he  looked  up  smilingly,  and  said,  "God 
lias  given  me  a  Paradise  to  live  in,  and  a  Paradise  to  die  in." 
My  interviews  with  Father  Hersey  were  to  me  always  mel- 


JOHN  HERSEY  li» 

ting,  instructive  and  encouraging.  It  seemed  to  be  getting: 
out  of  this  world  into  the  vestibule  of  heaven  to  get  into  his. 
chamber.  I  need  not  state  the  impressions  I  received  from 
different  interviews  with  Father  Hersey,  were  precisely  the 
impressions  that  another  Christian  would  have  received,  that 
John  Hersey  was  Christ's,  and  Christ  was  John  Hersey's. 

The  following  letter  from  Father  Hersey's  pastor,  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  will  be  read  with  interest. 

DEAR  BRO.  MARINE  : 

In  compliance  with  your  request  sent  from  Baltimore 
Dec.  28th,  1878,  concerning  Rev.  John  Hersey,  I  will  send 
you  a  few  reminiscences,  which  occur  to  my  recollection. 

I  was  only  occasionally  privileged  with  an  interview  with 
the  dear  old  saint  (for  he  was  truly  one  of  the  best  men  and 
Christians  I  ever  knew).  My  first  acquaintance  with  him 
was  in  the  City  of  Baltimore,  in  the  year  1853,,  in  the  month 
of  May,  in  Armstrong  &  Berry's  book  store.  I  was  introdu- 
ced to  him  by  the  Rev.  I.  P.  Cook. 

Being  then  a  young  minister,  and  junior  with  Rev.  H, 
K.  Freed  on  the  Springfield  Circuit,  in  Philadelphia  Confer- 
ence, which,  I  think  Bro.  Hersey  had  once  traveled,  as  as- 
sistant preacher.  He  seemed  especially  interested  in  my  suc- 
cess, giving  me  much  good  advice.  He  left  an  indelible 
impression  on  my  mind.  His  tall  manly  figure — broad  brim- 
med hat,  linsey-woolsey  clothing — his  earnest,  spiritual  con- 
versation— his  affectionate,  kind  address — all  led  me  to  feel  a 
singular  veneration  for  him. 

My  next  interview  with  him  was  in  Hedding  M.  E. 
Church,  Philadelphia,  at  the  tent  meeting,  under  the  super- 
vision of  Rev.  A.  Manship.  Again  at  a  camp  meeting,  held 
near  Pennsgrove,  New  Jersey,  whilst  in  charge  of  St, 
George's  Circuit,  Philadelphia  Conference. 

Bro.  Hersey  'was  visiting  his  half  sister,  Mrs.  Nickelson,, 
in  Delaware  City,  and  seeing  me  there  in  my  carriage,  he1 
proposed  going  home  with  me,  and  in  riding  along  together. 
I  was  delighted  and  profited  by  his  conversation.  Having 
viwitcil  u>  \vhilr  I  \v.-is  in  cluifge  of  Crozierville  '  station, 
Delaware  Couiity,  Pa., 'in  1858,  two  or  three  times,  he  was  not 
a  stranger  in  our  family.  On  Sabbath  he  rode  with  me  to- 


130  SKETCH  OF 

my  appointments — preaching  at  Red  Lion  and  Glasgow. 
We  had  just  finished  and  dedicated  the  new  church  at  Glas- 
gow, and  of  course  he  took  exception  to  several  things  mak- 
ing up  the  furniture  of  the  new  building.  After  service  in 
the  afternoon,  we  rode  to  Bro.  Isaiah  Staunton's  house,  for 
supper,  where  we  spent  the  night  together,  he  having  a  sepa- 
rate bed.  The  next  morning  we  rode  over  to  Salem  M.  E. 
Church,  then  on  Newport  Circuit  and  not  far  from  Christine, 
in  New  Castle  County,  Delaware. 

Bro.  Hersey  recognized  the  grave-yard,  connected  with 
Salem,  as  a  hallowed  spot,  containing  the  precious  remains  of 
his  parents  and  ancestry,  After  lingering  there  for  a  little 
time,  he  returned  with  me  to  my  home  in  St.  George's,  and 
soon  left  to  attend  to  his  Master's  work — ''going  about  doing 
good." 

In  the  Spring  of  1862,  I  was  appointed  to  Cochranville 
Circuit,  Pa.,  and  in  the  month  of  October,- 1  received  a  letter 
from  Bro.  Charles  Reese,  who  lived  in  Penningtonville,  a 
small  village,  six  miles  from  Cochranville,  and  on  the  line  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Central  Railroad,  which  was  also  one  of  my 
appointments,  concerning  Bro.  Hersey,  who  having  traveled 
this  circuit  as  an  assistant,  had  formed  some  special  acquaint- 
ances, and  now  having  received  premonitions  of  death,  selec- 
ted Bro.  Reese's  house  as  his  last  earthly  home. 

Here  he  was  most  tenderly  and  kindly  cared  for,  from 
Tuesday,  October  2nd,  until  Sabbath  night,  November  16th, 
when  just  twenty  minutes  past  twelve  o'clock,  Bro.  Hersey 
died,  shouting  salvation  !  repeating  the  word  several  times ; 
and  placing  my  ear  close  to  his  lips,  he  attempted  the  utter- 
ance of  salvation  again,  succeeding  only  in  articulating  the 
first  syllable,  when  his  sainted  spirit  fled. 

There  were  present  at  this  solemn,  yet  happy  hour,  Rev. 
Alexander  M.  Kemble,  one  of  my  local  preachers ;  Bro. 
Reese,  wife,  son  and  niece  ;  sister  Ruth  Anna  Brosius  and 
myself.  Then  and  often  since,  I  have  thought  of  the  cou- 
plet : 

"The  chamber  where  the  good  man  meets  his  fate, 

Is  prtviledged  beyond  the  common  walk  of  virtuous  life, 

Quite  in  the  verge  of  heaven." 

was  and  is  a  truthful  representation  of  the  dying  scenes  and 


JOHN  HERSEY.  131 

associations   of  the  saint    of  God,  leaving  the  earthly  taber- 
nacle:    The   impression  and  memory  of  that  Sabbath  night 
will  never  be  forgotten  by  me,  or  the  rest  who  were  present. 
"It  was  good  to  be  there." 

I  send  you  a  transcript  of  the  letter  that  Bro.  Ileese  sent 
me,  on  Bro.  Hersey's  arrival  at  his  house  in  Penningtonville, 
Chester  County,  Pa.: 

Penningtonville,  Oct.  2nd,  1862. 
DEAR  BRO.  DARE  : 

The  old  Israelite  has  come  (I  mean  Father  Hersey). 
He  landed  safe  on  Tuesday  evening.  Not  being  able  to  get 
out  of  the  cars  in  time  to  get  his  trunk,  they  took  it  on  to 
the  city,  which  worried  him  very  much.  I  wrote  a  note  de- 
scribing it,  and  gave  it  to  the  baggage-master,  requesting 
him  to  bring  up  the  trunk,  which  he  did  the  next  morning, 
to  the  great  satisfaction  of  Father  Hersey — who  is  very  anx- 
ious to  see  you,  as  soon  as  you  can  conveniently  come.  He 
is  none  the  worse  of  his  ride  on  the  cars,  but  is  feeble — not 
able  to  walk  much — his  feet  being  very  stiff  and  paining  him 
very  much.  Come  soon. 

Respectfully  yours, 

CHARLES  REESE. 

I  hastened  to  see  him,  and  was  permitted  to  repeat  the 
visit  several  times  before  his  death.  My  esteemed  colleague, 
Rev.  Robert  W.  Jones,  spent  much  time  with  him — more 
than  I  could — as  his  boarding  house  was  in  that  village.  In  my 
frequent  visitations,  he  was  continually  giving  me  good  in- 
structions, which  has  ever  since  been  a  stimulus  in  my  work 
as  a  minister  of  the  Lord  Jesus.  - 

There  were  occasionally  seasons  of  depressions  with  Bro. 
Hersey,  because  of  the  wicked  world  and  the  lack,  or  want  of 
zeal  in  the  church  Yet  the  last  were  among  the  happiest  weeks 
of  his  eventful  life. 

I  called  to  see  him  on  Sabbath,  Nov.  16th.  After  dinner 
sang  with  him,  his  favorite  hymn — "When  for  eternal  worlds 
we  steer,  &c.,  &c."  .and  then  joined  with  him  in  prayer. 

After  his  death,  a  new  suit  of  clothes  which  some  kind 
brother  had  given  him,  was  put  upon  the  body,  which,  as  he 
had  requested,  was  placed  in  a  neat  coffin,  made  of  poplar 


132  SKETCH  OF 

wood,  by  Bro.  Charles  Reese.  He  had  requested  me  to  super- 
intend the  funeral  services,  which  he  desired  to  be  without 
pomp  or  show.  He  wished  no  sermon  to  be  preached,  but 
leaving  it  at  my  option  to  invite  several  brethren,  which  I  did. 
Appropriate  remarks  were  made  by  nearly  all  the  brothers 
present,  after  which  we  followed  the  precitms  remains  to  the 
lot  surrounding  the  Penningtonville  M.  E.  Church,  and  on 
the  East  side  of  the  building  was  placed  all  that  was  mortal 
of  Rev.  John  Hersey. 

Very  truly,  yours  in  Christ, 

JOSEPH  DARE, 

Wilmington  Conference  M.  JE.  Church. 

The  remains  of  Father  Hersey  were  taken  from  the  home 
of  Charles  Reese,  where  he  died,  to  the  church,  on  Wednes- 
day afternoon  at  2  o'clock,  where  the  funeral  services  took 
place.  The  pall-bearers  were  Rev.  Joseph  Dare,  preacher  in 
charge  of  the  circuit,  Rev.  Robert  A  Jones,  junior  preacher, 
Rev.  J.  Pasterfield,  Rev.  Wm.  Burrell,  Rev.  George  W.  Ly- 
brand  and  Rev.  I.  R.  Merrill,  Methodist  preachers  and  Rev. 
Wm.  T.  Bunker  and  Rev.  Charles  Young,  Sr.,  Baptist 
preachers. 

Revs.  Jos.  Dare,  Robert  A.  Jones,  Jeremiah  Pasterfield, 
Wm  Burrell,  George  W.  Lybrand,  I.  R.  Merrill,  Wm.  T. 
Bunker  and  Chas.  Young  participated  in  the  services,  all  de- 
livered short  addresses,  except  Revs.  Chas.  Young  and  Robt. 
Jones  ;  Rev.  J.  Pasterfield  read  as  a  Scripture  lesson,  the 
15th  chapter  of  First  Corinthians.  The  opening  hymn  was 
sung,  being  announced  by  Rev.  I.  R.  Merrill. 

"Servant  of  God,  well  done,  <fcc." 

Doxology  was  then  sung,  and  benediction  pronounced  by 
Rev.  A.  Hooke. 

The  attendance  by  the  citizens  of  the  place  and  surround- 
ing country  and  from  the  other  churches  on  Cochranville  cir- 
cuit was  large. 

The  remains  were  buried  in  Penningtonville  (now  called 
Atglen,)  cemetery,  adjoining  Atglen  Church. 
The  dust  of  this  venerable  servant  of  Go  d  being  sealed  from 
the  sight  of  the  living. 


JOHN  HERSEY.  133 

Happy  the  spirit  released  from  its  clay; 
Happy  the  soul  that  goes  bounding  away, 
Singing,  as  upward  it  hastes  to  the  skies, 
Victory  !  victory  !  homeward  I  rise. 

Many  the  toils  it  has  passed  through  below. 
Many  the  seasons  of  trial  and  woe  ; 
Many  the  doublings  it  never  should  sing, 
Victory  !  victory  !  thus  on  the  wing. 

There  lies  the  wearisome  body  at  rest : 
Closed  are  its  eyelids,  and  quiet  its  breast. 
But  the  glad  spirit  on  the  pinions  of  light, 
Victory  !  victory  !  sings  in  its  flight. 
\ 

While  we  are  weeping,  our  friends  gone  from  earth, 
Artgels  are  singing  their  heavenly  birth  ; 
Welcome,  oh  welcome  to  our  happy  shore  ; 
Victory  !  victory  !  weep  ye  no  more. 

How  can  we  wish  them  recalled  from  their  home, 
Longer  in  sorrowing  exile  to  roam  ; 
Safely  they  passed  from  their  troubles  beneath, 
Victory  !  victory  !  shouting  in  death. 

Thus  let  them  slumber,  'till  Christ  from  the  skies 
Bids  them  in  glorified  bodies  arise  ; 
Singing,  as  upward  they  spring  from  the  tomb, 
Victory  !  salvation  !   Jesus  hath  come. 

The  following  epitaph  marks  the  last  resting  place  of  this 
venerable  saint. 

JOHN    HERSEY , 

MINISTER    OF    THE    GOSPEL 

OF  TIIE 
M.  E.  CHURCH. 

Died  November  17th,  1802,  aged  76  years,  3  months,  15  days. 
(Earth  exchanged  for  heaven.} 

Behold  God  is  my  salvation, 

I  will  trust  and  not  be  afraid ; 

For  the  Lord  Jehovah  is  my  strength  and  my  song. 

He  is  also  become  my  salvation. 

ISAIAH  :  xii  chap.,  11  verse 


134  SKETCH  OF 

When  the  report  of  Father  Hersey's  demise  reached  Balti- 
more, a  meeting  of  the  preachers  was  called,  when,  by  unani- 
mous request,  the  following  minutes  were  written  by  Rev. 
J.  H.  Brown,  D.  D. 

"Rev.  John  Hersey  who  has  recently  been  taken  to  his 
everlasting  rest,  was  a  remarkable  man.  We  shall  not  soon 
see  his  like  again.  His  name  will  live  in  the  remembrance 
of  God's  people,  wherever  he  journeyed  as  an  Evangelist, 
for  his  self-denial,  his  great  labors  both  in  public  and  private 
preaching  the  word,  and  visiting  from  house  to  house ;  for 
his  primitive  habits  and  for  his  unworldly  and  holy  example. 
He  seemed  to  be  raised  in  the  providence  of  God,  to  be  a 
living  rebuke  to  the  worldliness  of  the  churches,  especially 
our  own.  Those  who  knew  him  best,  esteemed  him  most. 
He  was  kind  in  his  reproofs,  agreeable  in  his  intercourse  and 
amiable  in  his  spirit.  In  the  times  which  came  over  him, 
he  did  justly,  loved  mercy  and  walked  humbly  with  God. 

This  body  of  Christian  ministers  will  not  soon  forget  his 
parting  address;  he  was  extremely  feeble.  It  was  to  be  his 
last  interview ;  it  was  an  occasion  when  words  sank  deeply 
into  the  listening  ear.  How  impressive  and  patriarchal  the 
remark,  "My  Master  is  about  to  call  me  home,  and  I  have 
no  objections  to  go." 

It  told  of  an  intercourse  above — a  divine  commission 
known  to  a  sort  of  God's  dear  children,  who  walk  in  perfect- 
ness.  He  died  in  the  Lord  on  the  morning  of  the  17th  of 
November,  1862,  in  Penningtonville,  Chester  Co.,  Pa  ,  in 
the  kind  family  of  Bro.  Charles  Reese.  He  has  left  us  a 
monument,  more  enduring  than  the  chiseled  stone.  His  life 
is  a  living  testimony,  and  his  death  gloriously  triumphant 
through  the  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  life  and  labors"  of  this  devoted  servant 
of  God  and  laborious  Evangelist,  shall  ever  live  in  our 
remembrance. 

Resolved,  That  his  diligence  in  the  improvement  of  time 
and  opportunities  shall  not  be  without  their  notes  of  admoni- 
tory reasoning  to  us  in  our  future  ministry. 

We  extract  the  following  from  that  excellent  newspaper, 
"The  Daily  Baltimore  Sun,"  under  date  of  November  25th, 
1862. 


JOHN  HERSEY  135 

DIED 

At  Penningtonville,  Pa.,  on  the  17th  of  November,  1862, 
Rev.  John  Hersey,  in  his  77th  year.  It  will  be  gratifying 
to  his  numerous  friends  to  be  informed,  that  he  died  in  great 
triumph. 

(Delaware  and  Missouri  papers  please  copy.) 

From  the  local  columns  of  the  same  journal  we  glean  the 
following  : 

"DEATH  OF  REV.  JOHN  HERSEY.  The  numerous  friends 
of  Rev.  John  Hersey,  will  learn  with  regret  that  he  departed 
this  life  at  Penningtonville,  Pa.,  on  the  17th  inst.,  in  the 
77th  year  of  his  age.  Mr.  Hersey  was  a  local  minister  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  but  traveled  extensively  in 
various  States  of  the  Union.  He  also  visited  Africa  some 
years  since  as  a  Missionary.  In  this  city  he  labored  for 
several  years  as  a  Home  Missionary,  and  extended  valuable 
relief  to  the  poor  and  destitute.  He  was  the  author  of  sev- 
eral volumes,  embodying  his  views  of  religion  and  practical 
economy.  Recently,  being  impressed  that  his  end  was  near, 
he  prepared  his  last  publication,  and  bidding  an  affectionate 
farewell  to  his  Baltimore  friends,  he  repaired  to  the  residence 
of  a  friend  to  spend  his  last  days,  where  he  died  in  peace,  and 
was  interred  in  the  Methodist  burying  ground.  His  manner 
of  life  was  abstemious  and  marked  by  great  self-denial. 
His  piety  was  of  the  most  decided  character,  and  his  benevo- 
lence knew  no  bounds,  except  his  limited  means." 

A  singular  coincident  is  found  in  the  fact  that  upon  the 
same  day  that  "Satan  unmasked,  or  the  human  heart  unveil- 
ed;  the  mysteries  of  the  Book  of  Revelation  explained," 
was  offered  for  sale  through  the  columns  of  the  "American." 
at  Baltimore,  Md.,  its  author,  Rev.  John  Hersey,  died  at 
Penningtonville,  Pa. 

We  copy  from  the  Christian  Advocate  and  Journal,  of  Jan. 
8th,  1863,  the  following  notice,  by  Rev.  G.  W.  Lybrand. 

Rev.  John  Hersey  died  at  the  house  of  Charles  Reese, 
Penningtonville,  Pa.,  on  Monday,  Nov.  17th.  He  was 
born  in  New  Castle  County,  Del.,  August  2nd,  1786.  His 
family  were  identified  with  the  early  history  of  Methodism  ; 
his  parents,  Isaac  and  Jane  Hersey,  lived  west  of  Christiana, 


136  SKETCH  OF 

Del.  As  early  as  1771,  they  opened  their  house  to  the 
preachers  ;  here  a  society  was  raised  up  and  afterwards  a 
church  called  Salem  was  built  about  1809 ;  this  is  one  of  the 
oldest  appointments  in  Delaware.  "The  house  of  his  uncle, 
Solomon  Hersey,  was  the  first  place  at  which  Mr.  Asbury 
preached  on  the  Manor,  Cecil  County,  Md."  He  had  the 
preaching  at  his  house  for  a  number  of  years,  and  though  the 
first  Methodist  preaching  on  the  Eastern  Shore  of  Maryland, 
was  in  Kent  County,  yet  the  evidence  in  the  case  leads  to 
the  belief  that  the  first  society  on  the  Shore  was  formed  at 
Bro.  Hersey's  in  1772,  This  society  is  still  represented  at 
the  Manor  Chapel.  Another  brother,  Benjamin  Hersey,  was 
the  leading  spirit,  if  not  the  father  of  the  Union  appoint- 
ment on  Smyrna  Circuit. 

Our  departed  brother  enjoyed  from  these  connections, 
marked  early  religious  advantages,  He  often  referred  to  the 
influence  of  mothers,  and  spoke  in  his  illness  of  his  precious 
mother,  and  that  in  answer  to  her  prayers,  he  was  brought  to 
Christ.  She  in  early  life  was  a  Friend,  and  when  she  became 
a  Methodist,  she  retained  the  simplicity  of  manners  and  plain- 
ness of  dress  that  characterizes  that  people.  Highly  favored 
as  he  was,  he  spent  the  earlier  years  of  his  manhood,  as  a 
man  of  the  world. 

At  what  period  he  gave  his  heart  to  God,  I  have  no  data. 
For  upwards  of  forty  years  he  was  an  itinerant  local  preach- 
er; as  an  Evangelist,  he  traveled  through  nearly  all  the 
States,  besides  visiting  the  colony  of  Liberia.  He  often 
preached  every  day  in  the  week,  and  frequently  on  the  Sab- 
bath thrice.  He  was  ordained  deacon  by  Bishop  Soule, 
April  10th,  1825  ;  elder,  by  Bishop  Roberts,  March  1st, 
1829.  He  thus  refers  to  the  goodness  of  God  in  the  preser- 
vation of  his  health  and  life  through  a  long  period  of  service: 
"God  in  mercy  has  spared  my  life  until  I  have  well-nigh 
reached  my  seventy-sixth  year  on  earth,  and  I  feel  sensibly, 
that  my  lengthened  days  on  earth  are  fast  drawing  to  a  close. 
Until  a  few  months  past,  I  have  not  felt  any  bodily  fatigue, 
though  I  have  generally  preached  twice,  or  thrice  each  Sun- 
day, and  nearly  every  night  in  the  week.  I  have  not  for 
years  laid  down  in  the  day  time,  unless  in  case  of  sickness, 
which  seldom  occurred.  God,  in  mercy  has  given  me  strength 
to  walk  most  of  the  circuits  I  have  traveled,  some  of  them  very 
large ;  the  Culpeper  circuit,  the  first  I  traveled,  was  two 


JOHN  MERSEY.  137 

hundred  and  forty  miles  around;  and  one  rest  day  in  four 
weeks,  and  no  more.  The  last  two  circuits  which  I  traveled 
only  a  few  years  since,  West  Harford  and  Cochranville,  were 
about  the  usual  size  in  these  modern  days.  Two  Sabbaths 
I  filled  three  appointments,  five  miles  apart,  and  generally 
led  two  classes,  and  seldom,  if  ever  retired  to  bed  feeling 
more  fatigued  than  when  I  rose  in  the  morning  ;  this  for  one 
over  seventy  years  may  appear  to  be  incredible  ;  the  cause  I 
attribute  to  the  goodness  and  mercy  of  God  alone ;  the  first 
indication  of  failing  strength,  was  at  the  close  of  last  year." 
He  spent  the  w'atch  night  at  Kenton,  Del.  After  this  he 
preached  some  seventy-nine  times,  mostly  in  January,  Febru- 
ary, March  and  April  of  this  year.  His  last  sermon  was 
preached  in  Fayette  St.  M.  E.  Church,  Baltimore,  Md.,  on 
Sabbath,  Sept.  28th,  from  Psalm,  23,  24. 

Convinced  his  end  was  nigh,  he  sought  a  place  of  rest  and 
quiet,  away  from  noise  and  bustle,  to  close  his  days  ;  this  he 
found  in  the  hospitable  home  of  Charles  Reese,  of  Penning- 
tonville.  He  reached-this  on  Tuesday,  Sept.  30th,  1862. 

He  was  able  on  two  occasions  afterwards,  to  go  to  the 
house  of  God,  on  one  of  which  he  worshipped  with  the 
Presbyterians  at  the  Communion  season,  assisting  in  the 
same  ;  the  last  service  in  which  he  took  part,  was  an  exhorta- 
tion, at  the  close  of  a  sermon  in  the  M.  E.  Church  on  the 
same  day,  just  six  weeks  before  his  death.  His  faith  tri- 
umphed gloriously  in  the  final  struggle. 

Bro.  Reese  who  was  constant  in  his  attendance,  and  who, 
with  his  family,  nursed  him  as  a  child,  thus  writes  :  "He  was 
very  thankful ;  any  little  favor  done,  he  would  say  thank  you; 
when  the  family  was  about  to  retire,  he  would  take  all  by  the 
hand  and  pronounce  a  blessing  on  them,  and  impress  a  holy 
kiss  on  each,  and  bid  them  good  night.  At  one  time  in  the 
middle  of  the  night,  the  Lord  blessed  him  most  powerfully  ; 
he  said,  'O  that  I  had  strength  and  voice  to  shout  the  praise 
of  God  !'  but,  said  he,  'Hallelujah,  hallelujah,  praise  the 
Lord,  oh  my  soul,  and  all  that  is  within  me  bless  His  holy 
name  ;  oh  how  unworthy  I  am,  but  Christ  alone  is  worthy.' 
Again,  he  would  say,  'Poor,  poor,  rich,  rich,  rich,  having 
Christ  I  have  all  things.'  0  that  I  could  stand  on  some 
eminence  and  with  the  voice  of  an  angel  proclaim  salvation 
to  a  lost  and  ruined  world  !" 


138  SKETCH  OF 

The  Rev.  I.  R.  Merrill  visited  him  during  his  sickness, 
and  thus  writes  :  "I  then  asked  him  what  was  the  state  of 
his  mind  in  a  spiritual  point  of  view  ?  Ha  replied  that 
through  the  abundant  mercy  of  God,  in  Christ  Jesus,  he  felt 
that  he  was  accepted  of  God;  and  said  he,  "My  brother,  I 
have  only  one  regret ;  that  is,  that  I  have  not  done  more  for 
my  Lord  and  Master." 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Bunker  of  the  Baptist  Church,  writes:  "The 
last  interview  lhal  with  him,  when  I  understood  his  last 
hour  had  nearly  come,  I  quoted  for  his  encouragement,  the 
dying  words  of  the  sainted  Payson.  He  looked  up  smilingly, 
and  said,  'God  has  given  me  a  Paradise  to  live  in,  and  a  Par- 
adise to  die  in  ;'  thus  it  was  till  the  last ;  the  last  words 
uttered  were  "Salvation."  He  gave  directions,  in  reference 
to  his  burial  "That  his  remains  be  inclosed  in  a  very  plain  pine 
or  poplar  coffin,  with  as  little  show  and  parade  as  possible  ;  no 
funeral  sermon  preached,  but  appropriate  Christian  remarks, 
when  the  body  is  interred."  His  wishes  were  complied  with  and 
on  Wednesday,  November  19th,  1862, -in  the  presence  of  his 
brethren  in  the  ministry  and  laity,  his  remains  were  deposit- 
ed in  the  burial  ground  of  the  Penningtonville  M.  E.  Church. 
The  impression  of  all,  in~  his  life  and  death,  "That  John 
Hersey  was  Christ's,  and  Christ  was  John  Hersey's" 


JOHN  HERSEY.  139 


Soldier  of  Christ,  farewell,  thy  race  is  run, 
Thou  hast  kept  the  faith,  and  nobly  served  thy  Lord, 

Fought  the  good  fight,  the  glorious  victory  won, 
And  now  hast  entered  on  thy  Great  Reward. 

Departed  saint !  and  shall  we  mourn  thy  flight, 
Or  bid  our  breasts  with  holy  triumph  swell, 

To  greet  thy  entrance  on  the  realms  of  light, 
Check  the  full  tear — the  bursting  sigh  repel. 

The  crown  of  righteousness  is  now  thy  own  ; 

Thine  to  behold  our  God's  unclouded  face  ; 
With  heavenly  harps  before  the  eternal  throne, 

To  join  the  Wesleys  in  the  Songs  of  Praise. 

Yet  why  from  numbers  drops  the  gushing  tear, 
Hersey,  your  valued  friend  has  Jordan  crossed. 

Yes,  weep,  ye  children  of  his  faith  and  prayer, 
Another  father  hath  our  Israel  lost. 

But  no — hold  fast  your  hope  unto  the  end, 
You  shall  be  stars  to  glitter  in  his  crown, 

You  shall  with  him  the  heavenly  mount  ascend, 
In  God's  Great  Day — His  ministry  to  own. 

The  Lord  who  first  our  spreading  churches  raised, 
Will  still  vouchsafe  his  all-sufficient  grace, 

To  bless  the  assemblies  where  his  name  is  praised, 
And  bid  another  fill  our  Hersey's  place. 

Called  by  Jehovah  in  the  bloom  of  youth, 

The  hallowed  standard  of  the  Cross  to  raise ; 

Boldly  he  preached  the  Gospel's  sacred  truth, 
The  joyful  tidings  of  unbounded  grace. 

His  bosom  glowing  with  celestial  love, 

He  calmly  suffered  persecution's  ire, 
Repaid  his  enemies  with  prayer,  and  strove 

To  pluck  the  brands  from  everlasting  fire. 

A  true  expounder  of  the  sacred  word, 

The  weak  He  strengthened,  and  the  careless  warned, 
Cut  the  heart,  the  trembling  sinner  heard, 

The  awful  judgment  of  that  God  he  scorned. 

A  lively  preacher  more  than  forty  years, 

He  faithfully  fulfilled  his  high  behefts, 
Reared  by  his  pious  ministerial  cares, 

Lo  !  ransomed  thousands  rise  to  call  him  blessed. 

Called  by  his  Master  to  the  painful  test, 

He  nobly  bore  the  consecrated  cross  ; 
You  who  have  known  the  virtues  he  possessed, 

Alone  can  fully  estimate  his  loss. 


140  SKETCH  OF 

Just  granted  here  to  hail  Immanuel's  birth 
Then  summon'd  to  behold  His  face  above, 

To  join  in  heaven  the  ransom'd  sons  of  earth, 
And  share  the  purchase  of  redeeming  love. 

Disrobed  of  all  his  terrors,  death  drew  nigh, 
Behind  a  band  of  shining  seraphs  stood ; 

He  pointed  Hersey  to  the  opening  sky, 
And  dipped  his  dart  in  the  atoning  blood. 

The  faithful  Christian  felt  the  stingless  wound, 
And  to  his  God  resigned  his  fleeting  breath, 

Behold  heaven's  portals  thro'  the  gloom  around, 
He  shouted  victory  !  victory  !!  in  the  arms  of  death. 

O  blest  conclusion  of  a  glorious  race, 

The  goal  attain'd  the  promised  prize  is  given : 

With  holy  joy,  thy  blissful  soul  we  trace. 
Escaped  from  earth  to  happiness  and  heaven. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


BEING  A  DIARY  OF 

FATHER  HBRSEY, 

From  April  18,  1853,  ending  November  29th,  1853.. 

ALSO 

SERMONS  AND  ADDRESSES, 

With  Extracts  from  his  Writing  and  Letters, 
to  his  friends. 


14  2  SKETCH  OF 

The  author  was  desirous  of  procuring  the  entire  diary  ot 
Father  Hersey,  so  far  as  the  same  was  kept  by  him,  and  to 
this  end  he  has  sought  its  procurement.  Diligent  inquiry  has 
developed  the  fact  that  the  writer  is  not  the  first  person  who 
has  sought  to  place  in  tangible  form  the  memento  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch.  In  the  course  of  his  researches,  it  was 
ascertained  that  from  various  persons  who  at  one  time  were 
in  possession  of  portions  of  the  diary,  detached  parts  had 
been  obtained  by  those  who  purposed  to  put  into  memorial 
form,  the  object  now  sought,  and  were  by  them  lost ,  suffice  it 
to  say,  they  never  prosecuted  their  purpose  to  a  consummation. 

The  diary  (or  so  much  as  we  have  been  able  to  get,)  shows 
how  a  busy  life  was  spent.  Father  Hersey  was  no  laggard  ; 
he  worked  as  diligently  in  his  ministerial  calling,  as  the 
banker  or  merchant  toiling  after  gain.  During  the  time  he  was 
Baltimore  City  Missionary,  he  kept  his  office  in  the  rear  of 
the  Fayette  Street  Methodist  Church,  and  he  was  warmly 
sustained  in  his  efforts  by  substantial  aid  rendered  by  Bros. 
E.  C.  Thomas  and  H.  W.  Drakely  of  the  Fayette  St.  charge. 

The  sermons  and  the  addresses  are  inserted  as  specimens  of 
his  style,  while  the  letters  speak  the  inward  thought  of  the 
man ;  they  best  illustrate  the  pure  heavenly  atmosphere  in 
which  he  dwelt  on  earth,  and  are  a  legacy  to  his  friends ; 
both  rich  and  varied  in  religious  experience.  In  modern 
days  they  may  not  be  agreeable  patterns  of  piety,  because  of 
their  exactness ;  but  we  opine  that  as  the  embodiment  of  that 
genuine  Christianity,  which  is  needed  to  turn  worldly  things 
upside  down,  they  contain  the  doctrinal  elements  needful  for 
success. 

Monday,  April  18,  1853. — There  have  been  very  few  calls 
at  my  office,  and  I  have  concluded  to  attend  there  in  the 
morning  hour  only.  Visited  a  few  sick  and  afflicted  souls — 
one  man  when  I  spoke  to  him  on  the  subject  of  religion, 
turned  over  in  his  bed  with  apparent  contempt  from  me  I 
then  spoke  plain,  strong,  awful  things  to  him  ;  he  turned 
back  and  softened  down,  and  said  he  was  not  an  Infidel — 
wanted  religion,  &c.  I  fear  his  state  is  indeed,  desperate. 
In  the  evening  attended  a  meeting  of  the  William  Street  Sta- 
tion and  tendered  them  the  new  chapel,  which  was  unanimously 
accepted — with  only  one  dissenting  voice. 

Tuesday,  ISth.     This  has  been  a  wet  day.     Very  few  at  the 


JOHN  HERSEY.  143 

* 

office.  I  called  to  see  a  poor  sister  near  her  end ;  read  and 
prayed  with  her  ;  she  appears  happy  and  resigned  ;  Lord 
comfort  and  take  her  home  to  heaven.  Have  made  but  few 
visits  ;  should  have  gone  to  the  Battery,  but  the  distance  and 
rain  prevented.  Will  this  excuse  stand  in  the  Judgment 
day?  Lord  save,  or  I  perish. 

Wednesday  20th. — This  day  I  have  given  up  our  office  ; 
the  proprietor  wanted  it  for  his  own  purpose.  The  poor 
sister  whom  I  visited  yesterday,  has  gone,  I  hope  to  Abra- 
ham's bosom  ;  she  died  rejoicing  in  God,  her  Saviour.  I 
have  been  very  busy  to  day,  doing  as  usual,  almost  nothing. 
Preached  at  William  Street  Church  for  Bro.  Brown — a  good 
congregation — a  solemn,  and  I  hope  a  profitable  season — 
walked  home  and  felt  no  fatigue. 

Thursday  2lst. — I  have  visited  some  heart-rending  cases 
to-day — one  poor  heart-broken  mother  with  five  little  children, 
eight  months  siuce  her  husband  went  out  to  collect  some 
money,  and  has  never  since  been  heard  of;  she  was  confined 
two  months  after  his  disappearance,  and  had  neither  doctor, 
nor  female  friend  with  her  ;  her  poverty  and  suffering  are 
indescribable.  Bro.  D.  Ball  gave  me  a  dollar.  I  will  en- 
deavor to  get  her  children  iuto  the  asylum.  Another  poor 
afflicted  daughter  had  been  too  unwell  to  visit  the  office,  and 
had  suffered ;  she  is  retiring  and  very  grateful  for  favors. 
Haptized  two  interesting  families  of  children.  Heard  Bro. 
Gear  preach  at  Fayette  Street  Church  to  a  small  congrega- 
tion. 

Friday  22nd. — I  have  walked  over  most  of  our  ground  to- 
day. Had  a  considerable  weakness  in  my  back  this  morning; 
which  however,  subsided  after  considerable  effort.  Visited 
the  Aged  Women's  Home  ;  found  a  number  of  these  afflicted 
both  in  mind  and  in  body.  Nothing  can  satisfy  an  unholy 
heart,  and  so  few  enjoy  that  blessing.  That  few  indeed  are 
contented  and  happy.  Attended  class ;  Bro  Reese,  led  and 
made  some  very  judicious  remarks  in  reference  to  my  own 
case. 

S'l'nrd'ty  23rd — I  have  walked  much  and  have  done  but 
little,  either  for  God,  or  my  fellow  mortals,  or  myself.  May 
I  not  say  with  Titus — "A  day  has  been  lost.''  Another  week 
gone  to  return  no  more.  Shall  I  meet  the  events  of  this 
week  with  joy,  or  shame  and  sorrow  ?  Lord  help  me. 


144  SKETCH  OF 

Sunday  24th — This  has  been  a  cold,  wet,  uncomfortable  day, 
yet  it  is  the  Lord's  holy  day.  I  preached  at  the  Seamen's 
Bethel,  with  some  light  and  liberty.  Took  dinner  with  Bro. 
Brooks  and  attended  his  Sacramental  meeting  at  3  o'clock, 
after  which  they  had  an  experience  meeting.  Those  meetings 
I  am  compelled  to  leave  to  others,  not  being  able  to  decide 
fully  on  their  propriety.  If  I  am  called  on  by  friend  or  foe, 
or  on  any  suitable  occasion,  I  feel  bound  to  give  a  reason  of 
the  hope  that  is  in  me — but  to  call  on  the  public  frequently 
to  hear  me  speak  of  my  Christian  character  and  experience,  is 
something  of  which  I  do  not  understand  the  principle.  To 
me  it  savors  not  of  that  retiring  delicacy ;  that  deep  humility 
of  soul  which  should  characterize  God's  children.  Heard 
Bro.  Reese  preach  a  good  sermon  at  Fayette  at  night.  I 
closed  with  a  few  words  of  exhortation. 

Monday  25th. — This  has  been  a  wet  gloomy  day.  I  have 
however,  run  about  nearly  all  day.  Have  seen  only  a 
few  sick,  and  prayed  with  them.  Attended  prayer  meeting 
at  Fayette  St.  Church.  A  good  congregation  for  the  night. 
A  good  feeling ;  yet  m  yheart  was  like  a  stone — cold,  dark, 
dead.  Oh!  for  a  revelation  of  burning  light  and  power 
from  heaven  to  infuse  life  into  this  dead  soul. 

Tuesday  26th. — This  morning  I  took  a  long  walk  over  in- 
to Old  Town,  to  correct  a  falsehood  told  on  Mrs.  F by 

one  of  her  unprincipled  neighbors.     Called  to  see  Mrs.  H , 

a  poor,  afflicted  woman,  with  five  children  ;  one  I  got  into 
the  Manual  Labor  School ;  the  other  two — a  little  boy  and  girl. 
I  wished  to  place  in  the  Orphan  Asylum,  but  the  poor  heart 
broken  mother  with  a  deep  sigh,  said — Father  gone,  and  that 
boy ,  oh  I  cannot,  cannot  part  with  him  ;  I  said  it  will  be 
better  to  part  with  him,  than  hear  him  cry  for  bread,  and 
you  with  none  to  give  him.  "Oh"  said  she,  "I  don't  eat 
the  bread,  I  give  it  to  him."  Called  to  see  a  poor  sister, 
very  near  her  latter  end,  but  who  was  resigned  and  happy  in 
view  of  death. 

Wednesday  27th. — Collecting  for  the  little  chapel  has 
•caused  me  to  walk  much  ;  did  not  therefore,  make  many  mis- 
sion visits.  In  the  evening  walked  down  and  preached  at 
night  at  High'  Street,  for  Bro.  B.  Brooks — plain  and  pointed 
— a  good  and  very  attentive  congregation. 

Thursday,  28th. — The  duties  of  our  chapel  have  kept  me 


JOHN  HERSEY.  145 

employed ;  yet,  doing  almost  nothing.  I  did  however,  make 
some  interesting  visits.  Called  at  the  Old  Women's  Home, 
and  visited  the  sick  there.  Heard  Bro.  Reese  preach  to  a 
small  congregation,  but  better  than  usual,  at  Fayette 'Street 
Church. 

Friday,  29</t.  We  have  given  ourselves  so  little  time  to  fin- 
ish our  chapel,  that  it  will  be  with  great  difficulty  that  we  shall 
be  ready.  I  have  been  running  myself  all  day,  making  ar- 
range ments  for  the  dedication.  Bro.  R.  Brown  and  myself 
administered  the  Sacrament  to  a  poor  sister  about  to  leave  our 
sin-polluted  world.  It  will  be  a  glorious  exchange  for  her, 
if  she  is  indeed,  prepared  to  enter  into  the  marriage  supper 
of  the  Lamb.  Led  Bro.  Drakely's  class;  a  profitable  season 
for  my  own  soul. 

Saturday,  30/A. — Met  the  Building  Committee  and  Bro. 
Younger.  Settled  all  claims  against  our  chapel,  which  is  to  be 

dedicated  to  morrow,  free  of  debt.     Called  to  see  R.  G , 

who  has  been  confined  to  her  bed  for  eight  years,  more  or  less; 

a  patient  sufferer.     Poor  H is  in  great  distress ;  one  son 

deeply  afflicted  for  some  months ;  another  grown  son  has  be- 
come deranged  within  a  few  days.  The  brethren  have  done 
the  cause  of  God  an  injury,  which  cannot  be  measured,  in  cal- 
ling the  new  chapel  by  my  name ;  it  has  grieved  me  to  the  heart 
— they  have  done  it  ignorantly,  and  out  of  respect  to  me.  But 
alas,  in  the  estimation  of  the  church,  I  am  thereby  made  to  re- 
fute all  I  have  been  contending  for,  for  the  last  thirty  years. 
I  have  been  crying  ;<how  can  ye  believe  who  receive  honor  one 
of  another;"  and  they  will  now  think  and  say,  "He  is  willing 
to  swallow  the  poison  himself.''  It  is  now  too  late  to  remedy 
the  evil. 

Sallath,  ^f<l!J  1st. — A  dear,  fine,  precious  day.  Our  little 
chapel  has  this  day  been  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  God. 
Bishop  Waugh  preached  at  11  o'clock,  to  a  good  congregation, 
from  Johnlii:  16,  and  offered  up  the  chapel  to  God.  I 
preached  to  a  good  congregation  at  4  o'clock — a  solemn  pro- 
fitable season.  Text:  "In  all  places  where  I  record  my  name, 
I  will  come  unto^thee,  and  I  will  bless  thee  ;"  Exodus  xx :  24. 
At  8  o'clock,  I.  P.  Cook  preached  to  a  small,  but  attentive 
congregation,  from  Isaiah  Ivi :  7;  "For  my  house  shall  be 
called  a  house  of  prayer  for  all  people."  May  this  house  be 
accepted  of  God,  and  rendered  useful  to  the  people,  for  Christ's 


146  SKETCH  OF 

sake.  Amen.  Ifyde  nearly  home  with  Bro.  Perry,  and  re- 
tired to  bed  without  weariness  or  fatigue.  "Praise  theJLord, 
Oh  my  soul." 

Monday,  2d. — Oh,  that  I  had  more  wisdom,  and  more  faith. 
I  know  not  how  to  act — Lord  help  me.  What  I  know  not, 

teach  thou  me.     Poor  Mrs.  H has  sent  her  son  to  Mount 

Hope;  her  second  son  is  no  better.  How  mysterious  is  the 
providence  of  God  !  How  deep  the  afflictions  of  the  poor  ! 
But  God  will  remove  the  vail  in  due  time ;  then  shall  we  see 
that  all  His  dealings  were  marked  with  infinite  wisdom  and 
mercy.  We  love  and  pant  after  good  things.  But  will  not 
our  eyes  be  opened,  when  we  awake  in  hell,  and  hear  Him 
say  to  the  rich  man,  "Son,  remember  that  thou  received  thy 
good  things,  &c." 

Tuesday,  3c?. — My  soul  has  been  grieved  this  day,  to  see 
and  hear  the  suffering  of  the  poor.  It  appears  to  be  impossi- 
ble to  better  their  condition,  socially  or  spiritually.  They 
have  sunk  so  low,  that  they  seem  to  have  lost  all  the  energies 
of  their  nature.  And  our  standard  of  religion  is  so  low,  that 
it  makes  little  or  no  impression  on  them.  Preached  at  our 
new  chapel  at  8  o'clock,  to  a  small  congregation,  with  great 
liberty,  and  comfort  to  my  own  soul.  "Praise  the  Lord." 

Wednesday,  4th. — Very  little  done  this  day  for  my  Divine 
Master,  others  or  myself— an  idle  day,  and  an  unprofitable 
servant. 

Thursday,  5th. — Have   been  visiting  among  the  sick,  the 

poor — extremely  poor,  and  among  the  rich.     Bro.  P gave 

me  ten  dollars — an  article  always  in  demand,  and  always  dan- 
gerous in  its  tendencies.  Attended  a  meeting  of  the  male 
members  of  Fayette  Street  Church,  to  promote  church  exten- 
sion, and  to  build  another  church. 

Friday,  6th. — This  has  been  a  dull,  heavy  day,  both  liter- 
ally and  spiritually.  Have  only  bten  making  some  unprofit- 
able visits.  At  class  in  making  my  humble  confession  before 
God,  I  felt  condemned,  and  yet  I  hope  strengthened  and  en- 
couraged to  do  better. 

Saturday,  1th. — Have  made*  a  number  of  visits.  Was 
much  distressed  to  see  a  poor  heart  broken  mother  with  one 
son,  a  young  man,  in  bed,  deeply  afflicted  ;  another  deranged 
and  sent  to  the  hospital,  at  an  expense  of  five  dollars  per 


JOHN  HERSEY.  147 

week,  whilst  her  sister  had  left  on  a  drunken  spree.  Surely 
this  is  a  dark  and  wicked  world  of  sorrow  and  misery.  Why, 
oh  why,  do  we  not  seek  rest  and  peace  in  the  arms  of  Christ, 
bear  His  cross,  and  follow  Him  to  heaven.  ? 

Sabbath,  M.— Bro.  Reed,  from  Chillicothe,  led  B.  Wil- 
son's class  this  morning.  I  asked  him  about  his  soul — all  is 
well ,  he  replied,  the  Lord  hath  done  great  things  for  me. 
He  hath  cleansed  my  heart  from  all  sin  ;  I  am  now  ready ;  the 
fire  burns  in  my  heart.  He  spoke  with  tears  streaming  from 
his  eyes,  and  clasped  me  in  his  arms.  Praise  the  Lord  for 
such  mercies.  I  preached  at  the  Seamen's  Bethel,  with 
plainness  and  liberty.  It  rained  hard  until  nearly  night,  yet 
I  went  down  to  the  Mission  Chnpel,  and  spoke  to  a  few,  and 

the  school.  Returned  home  and  heard  Bro.  R preach  a 

good  sermon  at  Fayette  Street  Church,  It  is  not  however,  the 
kind  of  preaching  that  will  reach  the  heart  and  save  the 
perishing  sinners. 

^fnnday,  9th. — This  has  been  another  lost  day.  Oh  Lord, 
when  shall  idleness  and  folly  have  an  end  ?  When  shall  I  be 
diligent  in  every  good  word  and  work  ?  This  day  another 
month  ends.  Our  board  met ;  a  small  attendance  ;  they  ac- 
cepted my  resignation  and  concluded  to  continue  the  mission, 
but  did  not  choose  a  missionary. 

Tuesday,  10th. — Have  visited  a  number  of  families  in  the 
vicinity  of  our  chapel,  and  a  few  sick  in  York  street.  Led 
Bro.  Perry's  class — a  great  want  of  faith  on  my  part. 
When  I  hear  God  say,  Ahab  humbled  himself,  when  he  put 
on  sack-cloth ;  when  I  know  that  Christ  hates  a  proud  look, 
and  then  hear  our  sisters,  when  dressed  quite  in  the  fashion, 
say  that  they  hunger  and  thirst  after  righteousness,  and  that 
the  spirit  of  God  bears  witness  with  their  spirit,  that  they  are 
the  children  of  God — I  am  confounded. 

\\'<'<lncsdity,  11th — Have  visited  only  a  few  families.  Dis- 
tributed some  tracts,  and  walked  much.  Preached  at  Wil- 
liam street  to  a  good  cangregation;  with  liberty  and  some 
effect.  Retired  at  a  late  hour  without  fatigue.  Oh  for  more 
grace,  wisdom,  humility  and  pure  love. 

Thursday,  11th — Arose  half  an  hour  after  my  usual  lime. 
Oh  may  I  not  be  after  the  time,  when  the  Master  cometh. 
Had  a  good  time  in  my  morning  devotions.  Attended  sister 
Mary  Hewett's  prayer  meeting  ;  there  were  a  number  of  fine 


148  SKETCH  OF 

ladies  present  from  our  own  and  other  churches.  I  read  a 
chapter  and  made  some  plain  remarks.  'I  fear  we  are  sinking: 
in  the  arms  of  the  world,  and  God  will  cast  us  off.  Attended 
and  heard  Bro.  Gear  talk  to  a  small  congregation  at  Fayette 
Street  Church. 

Friday,  13th  — I  have  fasted  to-day  as  usual,  but  alas  L 
how  little  do  I  think  about  it ;  oh  how  formal  and  offensive 
are  all  my  attempts  to  worship  God.  Called  with  Bro.  Cal- 
vert  at  Bro.  Brooks'  and  spent  some  time.  Lord  help  me  to- 
redeem  time.  Visited  among  the  poor  and  afflicted.  Took 

tea  with  Bro    P and  preached   at  Columbia  street  to  a 

good  congregation,  with  liberty  and  effect.  Lord  help  and 
pardon  all  my  follies. 

Saturday,  14th. — Rode  out  this  morning  early,  to  the  cem- 
etery— a  solemn  place;  but  alas  I  it  makes  no  impression  on 
our  minds.  Custom  blinds  our  eyes,  and  reconciles  us  to  our 
doom.  Felt  quite  unwell  for  a  few  hours — made  some  visits 
among  the  poor  and  others.  Another  week  is  gone,  and  with, 
all  its  infinite  realities  and  responsibilities,  it  has  been  permit- 
ted to  pass  like  others,  unheeded  and  unimproved.  Is  it  pos- 
sible ?  Can  nothing  but  the  thunders  of  the  judgment  day 
arouse  us  from  our  unholy  slumbers  ? 

Sattxith,  15th. — Rode  out  on  horseback  to  the  Grove,  and 
preached  with  liberty  to  a  good  congregation.  Returned,  and 
walked  down  to  the  Mission  Chapel,  and  preached  to  a  good 
congregation,  but  not  with  much  liberty.  Returned  and 
heard  Dr.  Roberts  preach  at  Eutaw.  His  subjct :  Sanctifica- 
tion.  If  our  efforts  on  this  subject  does  not  amount  to  more 
than  words,  we  shall  achieve  no  important  results,  notwith- 
standing all  our  light  on  the  subject. 

Monday,  IQth. — The  weather  has  become  very  warm.  I 
promised  to  lead  Bro.  Stevenson's  class ;  but  having  taken  a 
counterfeit  five  dollar  bill,  in  my  anxiety  to  ascertain  of  whom 
I  received  it,  I  forgot  my  promise  until  it  was  too  late,  and 
reached  the  room  when  class  was  nearly  over.  Oh  the  danger 
of  this  entangling  world.  Happy  are  those  who  keep  clear 
of  its  fatal  allurements.  Attended  a  missionary  meeting  at 
Dr.  Fuller's  Church,  (Baptist.)  My  heart  was  pained,  and 
my  judgment  disgusted  at  the  perversion  of  Christianity — all 
now  is  pomp  and  show.  If  we  commit  adultery  with  the  world, 
we  will  in  vain  strive  to  blind  the  eyes  of  the  people,-  by  the 


JOHN'  HERSi-:Y.  "i4:> 

cry  of  Catholosism  or  Protestantism.  Let  us  not  be  deceived  ; 
God  is  Dot  blind.  We  shall  have  our  reward. 

Tuesday,  \lth. — A  very  warm  day — have  visited  some  sick 

and  suffering  families.     One  sensible  man,   Mr.  B ,who 

is  recovering,  and  discovered  his  true  colors — Unicersalism. 
He  could  quote  Scripture  freely  and  correctly — oh  the  danger 
of  the  present  day.  False  colors  in  the  churches,  and  false 
doctrine  out  of  them,  and  so  we  go.  Promised  to  take  sup- 
per with  Bro.  C ,  and  forgot  it,  and  so  /  go. — oh,  the 

danger  of  life — blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord. 
Preached  at  the  Home  Missionary  Chapel  to  a  small  congrega- 
tion with  liberty,  as  usual.  Returned  home  fresh,  and  free  from 
fatigue.  Praise  the  Lord,  Oh,  my  soul.  Ever,  forever. 

Wednesday,  18//t. — My  time  has  been  occupied  running 
about  doing  nothing.  I  have  bought  and  paid  for  a  horse — 
Oh,  Lord,  let  thy  blessing  rest  upon  this,  as  upon  every  act 
of  my  life.  Thou,  Oh  God,  knowest  that  I  desire  to  do  all  I 
•do,  to  please  Thee;  Oh  forgive,  and  help  me,  and  guide  all 
my  steps  below,  and  grant  me  a  lot  among  the  holy  in  heaven. 

TJiursday,  19/A. — A  most  windy,  blustering  day  ;  the  dust 
has  been  exceeding]  annoying.  Have  made  but  few  visits; 
yet,  have  been  busy  fixing  my  wagon,  which  I  bought  for 
twenty-five  dollars.  Attended  Fayette  Street  Church.  Heard 
Bro  Reese  preach — was  sleepy- — Lord,  forgive  me.  I  closed 
•with  some  very  plain  remarksj  but  they  avail  nothing,  nor 
•will  anything  but  the  thunders  of  Jehovah's  judgment  arouse 
a  slumbering  church  to  a  sense  of  her  duty  and  her  danger. 

Friday,  20th. — Have  attempted  to  fast  as  usual,  but  as  us- 
ual, it  has  been  in  a  formal  and  unprofitable  manner.  Visi- 
ted a  few  families,  and  attended  and  led  our  cla^s ;  very  few 
out,  as  usual — a  cold,  dry  time.  Lord,  help  us. 

Saturday,  21st. — Was  sent  for  to  see  a  very  sick  woman; 
•when  I  reached  her  room,  she  had  gone  out,  either  on  busi- 
ness, or  to  visit  others.  I  found  all  she  wanted,  was  some 
assistance ;  this  it  was  easier  to  give  than  spiritual  food. 

Sdlbath,  22d  — I  went  to  lead  Bro.  Younger' s  class,  and  be- 
hold, the  family  had  removed.  I  had  long  been  promising, 
and  when  I  went,  it  was  too  late.  Oh,  the  danger  of  procras- 
tination. Lord,  help  me  to  act  promptly.  Preached  to  a  good 
congregation  at  Whatcoat  Street  Church  with  liberty;  again 


150  SKETCH  OF 

at  the  Home  Mission  Chapel  at  4  o'clock,  to  a  good  congrega- 
tion, with  much  liberty,  and  comfort  to  my  own  soul.  None 
of  the  official  brethren  present.  Took  supper  with  Bro.  Brooks 
and  preached  at  the  Seamen's  Bethel  at  night  to  a  good  con- 
gregation— two  mourners.  Walked  home,  and  felt  no  percep- 
tible fatigue,  either  of  body  or  mind.  Praise  the  Lord,  Oh, 
my  soul.  This  is  the  Lord's  doings,  and  it  is  wondrous  in 
our  eyes. 

Monday,  23rd — Thank  the  Lord  for  sleep  and  rest.  Arose 
at  my  usual  hour  ;  had  a  comfortable  time  in  waiting  upon 
the  Lord,  and  quite  a  precious  season  in  reading  my  morning 
lesson,  the  first  chapter  of  Revelation.  Oh  for  a  heart  to 
praise  my  God.  I  want  nothing  but  God — but  the  living 
God.  I  have  baen  patching  up  my  little  wagon,  and  have  done 
very  little  to-day.  Mercj7,  mercy,  is  all  my  plea.  Jesus 
died  for  me— for  me  the  Saviour  died. 

Tuesday,  24th — This  has  been  a  wet  day.  I  have  visited 
very  little.  Read  and  wrote  some.  Went  down  in  the 
evening  to  the  Hill,  to  fill  my  appointment  at  the  chapel : 
but  the  brethren  thought  it  would  be  unnecessary  to  go  out, 
as  there  would  be  no  one  there,  so  I  returned  home. 

Wednesday,  '25th — Praise  the  Lord  for  health,  and  a 
brightening  prospect  for  a  resting  place  in  heaven.  The  Lord 
will  not  be.  angry  forever.  II is  mercy  endureth  forever. 
Praise  the  Lord.  This  has  b'een  quite  a  wet  day.  Have 
made  but  few  visits,  and  preached  at  William  St.  Church  to  a 
small  congregation,  very  little  liberty.  Stayed  with  Bro. 
Armstrong  on  the  Hill. 

Thursday,  26th — Wrote  in  a  huary,  a  part  of  an  introduc- 
tion to  a  little  work  on  prayer.  Ran  about  all  day  doing 
very  little.  Heard  Bro.  Gear  preach  at  night  to  a  tolerable 
congregation — all,  all,  dead,  dead. 

Friday,  27th — Have  visited  a  number  of  friends  among  the 
poor  and  others.  Have  as  usual,  fasted,  and  have  felt  no  in- 
convenience therefrom.  Yet  is  there  a  great  want  of  spirit- 
uality in  this  privilege.  Led  Bro  D 's  class  with  some 

liberty ;  said  some  plain  things  ;  made  some  important  decla- 
rations. Lord  forgive,  if  I  erred. 

Saturday,  28/7* — Arose  at  my  usual  hour,  a  few  minutes 
before  four  o'clock.  Had  a  comfortable  hour  in  waiting  on 


JOHtf  HERSEY.  151 

the  Lord  in  prayer.  In  reading  my  precious  Saviour's  ser- 
mon on  the  Mount,  my  soul  was  softened  and  comforted. 
Praiso  the  Lord,  oh  my  soul.  I  have  been  very  busy — walk- 
ed much  ;  dined  with  sister  Hiser.  Took  supper  with  Dr. 
Knight.  Have  sold  five  sets  of  Madame  Guyon's  life. 

Sabbath,  29th — This  has  been  a  dark  morning  to  my  soul ; 
have  felt  dull  and  stupid.  Heard  ****  Wentworth  preach  a 
splendid  sermon  at  Columbia  street,  with  a  considerable  feel- 
ing. Attended  a  Sacramental  occasion  at  the  Seamen's 
Bethel  at  three  o'clock,  but  there  was  too  much  hurry.  I  am 
always  pained  here  to  see  the  folly,  and  the  gaudy  dress  of 
the  females  who  commune.  Preached  to  a  small  congrega- 
tion at  the  Mission  Chapel ;  there  was  a  good  feeling. 
Preached  at  eight  in  William  street  to  a  small  congregation, 
with  great  plainness,  but  not  much  effect.  Returned  home, 
refreshed  and  without  perceptible  fatigue.  Oh  for  a  heart  to 
praise  my  God. 

Monday,  30th — This,  like  other  days,  has  been  passed 
unprofitably.  Collected  money  and  paid  Bro.  H 's  doc- 
tor bill.  We  should  bear  one  another's  burdens.  Poot 
sister  A.  Robertson  is  sinking  into  eternity  ;  I  found  her  in 
a  better  frame  than  usual.  Alas,  my  own  cold  heart.  Lord, 
save  me. 

Tuesday,  31st — Have  been  very  busy,  walking  and  visit- 
ing. Preparing  to  leave  Baltimore.  Have  walked  over 
nearly  all  our  territory  in  the  city.  Administered  the  Sac- 
rament to  sister  0 and  the  doctor.  Preached  at  Eutaw, 

with  very  little  light  or  liberty. 

Wednesday,  June  1st. — Left  Baltimore.  After  running 
about  most  briskly,  arranging  my  wagon  and  horse,  with 
which  I  had  much  trouble,  I  left  Baltimore  at  four  o'clock ; 
came  to  Elkridge  without  accident,  or  injury  from  cars,  or 
my  horse,  for  which  I  desire  to  be  truly  thankful.  Stopped 
at  Bro.  Newton's  house  ;  he  immediately  ran  out  and  gath- 
ered up  a  congregation,  to  whom  I  preached  with  great 
liberty  ;  still,  after  the  burden  of  the  day,  and  after  walking 
nearly  a  mile  to  preach  and  back  ;  blessed  be  God,  I  felt  no 
fatigue  whatever.  Oh  my  God,  pardon  my  unbelief,  and 
forgive  my  ingratitude. 

Thursday  2nd. — After  a  pleasant  ride  for  me,  but  a  labor- 
ious one  for  my  horse,  I  reached  Georgetown  about  four 


o'clock  ;  stopped  with .  Here  I  found  pride  and 

folly  on  the  increase.  Went  to  the  church,  and  found  no 
one  there,  except  the  sexton.  After  waiting  a  long  time, 
the  preachers  came  in  ;  they  invited  me  to  preach  I  had 
some  liberty  and  preached  with  great  plainness;  brought  their 
sins  before  their  eyes  ;  but  I  fear  it  will  be  labor  lost.  The 
church  is  fully  set  to  go  with  the  world  and  draw  down  ruin 
on  ourselves  and  also  on  the  wicked  world.  I  found  they 
were  all  preparing  for  a  frolic  down  the  river.  They  were 
to  take  the  Sabbath  School  children  along  for  a  cloak  for 
their  own  naked  hearts.  But  God  is  not  deceived,  nor  will 
He  be  mocked.  He  will  tear  the  veil  away,  and  fully  expose 
their  nakedness. 

Friday,  3tZ. — Have,  as  usual,  attempted  to  fast;  yet,  for- 
mality nullifies  this,  and  most  other  efforts  I  make  to  serve 
the  Lord.  Visited  some  of  my  old  friends  in  Washington. 
I  greatly  fear  the  god  of  this  world  will  deceive  and  ruin  my 
old  friend,  M.  W.  L. 

Saturday,  4f h — Have  visited  some  of  my  friends  in  George- 
^town ;  but,  alas !  time  has  left  but  few  of  the  old  standards, 
and  soon  we  will  all  be  called  to  appear  before  the  Judge  of 
all  the  earth.  Oh,  may  we  be  prepared. 

Sunday,  5th — Led  Bro.  Brown's  class.  Have  found  a  few 
of  the  old  members,  and  only  a  very  few  were  present ;  was 
very  pointed  with  those  present.  Preached  in  Bro.  Land- 
street's  place,  at  eleven  o'clock  ;  the  Sacrament  was  adminis- 
tered ;  Bro.  Slicer  consecrated  the  elements  :  but,  alas  !  I 
fear  the  shadow  only  remains  here  also.  Preached  again  in 
the  Market  House  to  a  good  congregation,  at  3  o'clock,  with 
some  liberty  and  I  hope  good  effect.  Preached  again  at  8 
o'clock  for  Bro.  Cox;*in  the  M  P.  Church,  with  but  little 
liberty.  Walked  home  with  my  nephew,  and  blessed  be  God, 
felt  no  perceptible  fatigue.  Surely  this  is  the  Lord's  doings, 
and  it  is  marvellous  in  our^yes. 

Monday,  6fh — Went  this  morning  to  Alexandria.  Had  to 
run  to  reach  the  boat  in  time.  Dined  and  supped  with  Bro.  B. 
NVatera.  Preached  at  night  to  quite  a  large  and  most  atten- 
tive congregation.  Stayed  all  night  with  Bro.  Davey. 

Tuesday,  1th — I  was  beset  and  pained  by  a  wicked  dream . 
Surely  the  heart  is  not  here — nay  I  know  it  is  not,  or  those 
•dreams  would  not  exist.  Arose  at  3  o'clock,  and  after  spend- 


JOHN  HERSEY.  15$ 

ing  more  than  an  hour  and  a  half  in  my  morning  devotions, 
I  preached  to  a  good  congregation  at  5  o'clock  with  liberty 
and  comfort.  Came  away  in  the  boat  at  seven  o'clock  in 
company  with  Pr.  Legcnball ;  walked  from  the  boat  to- 
Georgetown,  which  is  called  three  miles.  Left  Georgetown 
after  dinner  and  came  to  Bro.  J.  S.  Hennings',  at  Rockville, 
when  I  was  very  kindly  received  by  the  family,  and  preached 
at  eight  o'clock  to  a  good  congregation,  with  liberty  and 
apparent  effect.  Praise  the  Lord,  I  still  feel  no  fatigue  of 
body,  or  mind.  Oh  for  more  gratitude  and  humility. 

Wednesday,  Sth — Came  to  Clarksburg,  but  did  not  find 
Bro.  Cullom  at  home.  Put  up  however,  for  the  night,  and 
preached  at  eight  o'clock  in  the  school  house,  to  a  little- 
flock  of  rather  insensible  hearers.  My  voice  was  much  re- 
stricted and  all  was  cold  and  dark.  Well,  I  have  tried,  but 
alas  !  how  very  unimportant  is  the  arm  of  flesh.  All  our  help 
must  come  from  God.  Lord  help  me. 

Thursday,  9th — Clouds  and  darkness  still  cover  my  sky. 
Oh  for  a  clear  morning  of  salvation,  a  heart  burning  with* 
love  for  God  and  all  mankind.  I  rode  up  to  Fredericktown 
on  horseback,  but  found  not  Bro.  Miller,  nor  Bro.  Tippett. 
Stopped  with  Andrew  Boyd.  Very  unexpectedly  met  with 
sister  Pendleton,  at  Bro.  Miller's  house — a  poor,  friendless, 
disconsolate  sister.  Preached  at  eight  o'clock  to  a  good  and 
very  attentive  congregation,  with  liberty,  and  I  hope  good 
effect. 

Friday,  10th — Spent  most  of  the  day  in  Frederick  City 
doing  nothing.  Returned  to  Clarksburg  in  the  evening ;  met 
with  Bros.  Cullom  and  Brown. 

S'it  iii-diii/,  \\th — Have  felt  dark  and  gloomy  for  sometime- 
This  morning  more  light  dawned  upon  my  soul,  and  I  enjoyed 
more  comfort  in  waiting  on  the  Lord  than  usual.  Rode  to 
Bchool  house  and  preached  to  a  little  handful  of  dull  hearers- 
Rode  home  with  E.  Beale  and  took  dinner  ;  returned  and 
preached  at  the  school  house  to  one  dozen,  hearers;  Bro. 
Cullom  very  much  discouraged.  Rode  one  mile  or  more  to- 
rest  for  the  night  with  Bro.  Lewis. 

X(il>/,(ifh,  ]2th — Held  a  love-feast  at  9  o'clock";  all  kinds  of 
people  present,  almost — at  least  from  the  careless  and  gay,  to- 
the  plain  and  thoughtful.  I  preached  at  eleven  o'clock  in 
the  open  air,  to  a  large  and  attentive  congregation,  with  much 


154  SKETCH     OF 

plainness  and  I  hope  some  effect,  After  an  intermission  of  an 
hour,  more  or  less,  Bro.  Crawford  preached  quite  a  good 
sermon,  and  at  night  Bro.  Cullom  preached  a  very  long,  plain 
sermon,  and  closed  quietly  and  without  uiuch  effect  Another 
precious  Sabbath  day,  We  stayed  with  Bro.  White. 

Monday,  13th — Returned  to  Clarksburg  and  spent  the  day 
with  Bro.  Cullom. 

Tuesday  14th. — The  weather  very  warm.  We  rode  out 
and  paid  several  visits.  Preached  at  Bethesda,  at  night,  to 
a  good  congregation,  with  some  liberty  and  effect.  Passed 
the  night  with  Bro.  Walker. 

Wednesday,  15th — Returned  to  Clarksburg,  and  felt  much 
disappointed  in  not  hearing  from  Bro.  Armstrong.  Spent  an 
unprofitable  day:  the  weather  very  warm.  Rode  up  to 
Hyattstown  and  preached  with  liberty  to  a  good  congregation. 
Stopped  with  Bro.  I.  Umsted. 

Thursday,  IQth — Slept  tolerably  well.  Left  after  early 
breakfast,  and  drove  my  wagon  up  to  Frederick  City.  Met 
Bro.  Miller  at  Bro.  Tippett's.  They  all  wished  me  to  preach 
at  night,  to  which  I  consented.  Rode  out  to  Bro.  Boyd's  ; 
my  horse  behaved  pretty  well.  Thank  the  Lord  for  His 
mercy.  Preached  with  some  liberty,  but  very  little  effect. 
Rested  for  the  night  with  Bro.  Tippett. 

Friday,  17th — This  has  been  a  very  warm  day.     I  have  as 
usual,  attempted  to  fast^but  alas,  how  formal  are  all  my  efforts 
to  worship  God.     Have  been  in  suspense  about  my  book,  but 
patience  must  have  her  perfect  work.     Walked  out  and  stay 
ed  with  the  Elder,  Bro.  Boyd. 

Saturday,  18th — I  have  been  much  perplexed  about  my 
book  ;  no  letter,  but  a  package  of  books  that  I  did  not  need, 
and  no  word  about  the  book  on  prayer.  I  wrote  a  letter  of 
very  plain  import,  which  may  offend  Bro.  Armstrong.  Per- 
haps I  am  wrong  in  my  object,  and  had  better  left  the  books 
and  gone  unincumbercd.  Well,  if  so,  I  will  give  them  up  ; 
yet  like  poor  Balaam,  perhaps  my  heart  is  in  the  money. 
Oh  Lord,  search  me,  and  try  me,  and  purge  every  stain  of 
earthly  love  out  of  my  soul.  Save,  oh  save,  that  I  perish 
not. 

Sulbath,  IQth — Have  felt  very  dull  and  dark  this  day  ;  my 
sky  is  much  beclouded.  "Lord,  what  wilt  Thou  have  me 


JOHN  HERSEY  155 

do  ?  Heard  Bro.  Miller  preach  to  the  colored  people,  at  ten 
o'clock,  and  at  three  preached  to  them  myself,  but  without 
life  or  liberty.  Preached  to  the  whites  at  night,  very  little 
liberty,  yet  the  Lord  enabled  me  to  say  plain  and  pointed 
things,  and  the  congregation  were  considerably  affected. 
Lord  help  me  and  forgive  my  follies.  Returned  and  stayed 
with  old  Bro.  Boyd. 

Monday,  20th — Attempted  to  visit  with  Bro.   Miller,  but 

failed ;    Bro.    M feels    very    much    discouraged.     Two 

years  ago,  there  were  more  taken  into  the  church  in  a  revival 
than  the  entire  number  on  record.  Our  modern  revivals  are 
measurably  delusions.  The  devil  is  busy  ;  his  servants  have 
opened  their  synagogues — the  theatre,  and  the  multitude  press 
into  it  and  pay  their  money  to  be  ruined  I  preached  at 
night  to  a  good  and  attentive  congregation  ;  it  was  a  solemn 
and  impressive  sermon. 

Tuesday,  2lst — Left  old  Bro.  Boyd's  after  early  breakfast- 
Spent  some  time  in  town,  then  rode  in  my  heavy  wagon  over 
a  most  hilly  road,  to  Barnesville,  where  I  fed  and  took  dinner 
with  Bro.  Nichols.  Came  on  to  Poolesville  and  stopped  with 
Bro.  Sissel,  one  mile  from  town.  Spoke  with  some  liberty; 
one  poor  mourner  at  the  altar.  Returned  to  Bro.  Sissel's, 
and  after  riding  twenty-three  miles,  more  or  less,  over  a  most 
hilly  road,  and  walking  in  the  broiling  sun  up  nearly  all  the 
hills,  I  felt  no  perceptible  fatigue.  Praise  the  Lord,  oh  my 
soul.  My  refractory  horse  has  behaved  well  to-day  ;  this  I 
impute  to  the  goodness  of  God  in  answer  to  prayer. 

\\'< ilncsday,  22nd — Have  spent  the  day  in  visiting  with" 
Bro  Cullom.  We  spent  a  few  hours  in  the  evening  with  a 
Presbyterian  family,  but  most  unprofitably.  I  felt  very  vacant 
and  gloomy,  had  scarce  a  word  to  say,  and  at  night  attempted 
to  preach,  but  had  neither  light  or  liberty,  nor  divine  unction; 
it  was  a  dark  time ;  after  which  the  meeting  closed  and  we 
went  to  Bro.  Sissel's  to  stay  all  night. 

Thwtday,  2&rd — Left  Bro.  Sissel's  after  breakfast;  my 
horse  behaved  well,  until  I  came  to  the  canal.  The  culvert 
•was  low  and  dark  and  rough  and  watery.  I  was  almost  de-.. 
terred  from  attempting  to  pass  it ;  the  horse  was  very  unwil- 
ling to  go  through.  I  however,  got  an  old  woman  to  lead 
him  through  ;  the  top  rubbed  nearly  all  the  way.  Surely  it 
was  grub  and  go.  Praise  the  Lord,  he  brought  me  through 


156  SKETCH  OF 

and  over  the  river  in  safety.  Reached  Leesburg  before  ten. 
Supped  with  Bro.  Rogers,  and  concluded  to  remain  all  night. 
Put  up  with  Bro.  Smith,  and  called  to  see  a  number  of  old 
friends.  Preached  at  night  to  a  good  congregation,  with 
liberty  and  effect.  Rain  caused  the  congregation  to  be 
smaller  than  it  would  have  been. 

Fi-iday,  24th — Preached  at  five  o'clock  to  a  good  congre- 
gation with  some  liberty.  Left  for  Middleburg,  where  I  was 
kindly  received  by  Bro.  Hurst.  Preached  at  night  to  a  large 
congregation  with  some  effect.  Stayed  with  Bro.  Brown. 

Saturday,  25th — Preached  at  five  o'clock  to  a  good  congre- 
gation. Sold  several  books  in  Bro.  Brown's  store.  Then 
rode  up  to  Upperville  and  left  niv  wagon  at  Bro.  Calvert's 
and  rode  on  horseback  to  Cool  Spring,  where  I  met  Bro. 
Hurst.  Stopped  with  sister  Kitty  Shackett. 

Sabbath,  2Qth — Preached  at  Cool  Spring  to  a  good  congre- 
gation with  great  plainness ;  there  was  deep  interest  felt. 
Rode  to  Salem,  and  preached  at  four  o'clock  with  much 
liberty  and  physical  strength.  Stopped  with  Bro.  Allen, 
Bro.  Hurst  preached  at  night  to  a  good  congregation. 

Monday,  27th — Called  to  see  an  amiable  family.  The 
girls  are  members,  their  brothers  are  kind  sinners.  Preach- 
ed at  a  school-house  at  eleven  o'clock  to  a  good  congregation; 
very  little  libertv  Took  dinner  at  Bro.  Harrison's.  Rode 
up  to  Rectortown  ;  stopped  with  Bro.  Sampson  ;  preached  at 
night ;  congregation  not  large,  and  very  late  assembling. 
Here  a  scene  of  discord  and  confusion  has  prevailed,  which 
delights  the  devil,  and  grieves  God's  spirit. 

Tuesday,  28th — Rode  out  and  spent  a  short  time  with  a 
family.  Bro.  Hunt's  family  came  through  a  hot  sun  to  Up- 
perville. Felt  very  much  exhausted  with  the  heat.  At  half 
past  four  o'clock  lectured  on  the  Apocalyptic  Witnesses  ;  and 
at  eight  o'clock  preached  to  a  small  congregation  with  some 
liberty. 

Wednesday,  29f7i — My  horse  has  been  stolen,  or  has  left 
the  pasture.  This  is  a  hard  trial,  but  blessed  be  God.  I  can 
give  him  up  most  freely,  though  the  best  horse  I  ever  owned. 
I  have  spent  a  very  tedious  day ;  it  has  been  very  warm,  and 
have  felt  very  weak.  Visited  and  took  tea  with  Dr.  Brown. 
Heard  a  Baptist,  Bro.  Dodge,  preach  at  a  late  hour  ;  closed 


JOHN  HERSEY.  157 

after  him,  and  thus  closed  an   unprofitable   day.     Lord  for- 
give and  help  me  for  Jesus'  sake. 

Thursday,  30f/t.  This  has  been  another  warm  day.  My 
time  has  been  spent  very  unprofitably.  My  horse  was 
brought  to  me  by  a  neighbor  to-day.  Thank  the  Lord  for 
his  mercies,  either  prosperous,  or  adverse,  shall  be  alike  ac- 
ceptable to  me. 

Friday,  July  1st — Arose  very  early  and  started  before  sun- 
rise in  my  wagon ;  but,  alas,  how  uncertain  are  all  human 
efforts  and  calculations.  I  had  progressed  only  a  few  miles, 
when  I  met  a  wagon  loaded  with  machinery,  in  a  very  narrow 
part  of  the  road.  My  horse  became  frightened,  nor  could  I 
manage  him ;  the  driver  refused  to  stop  ;  my-  horse  turned 
short  round,  how,  I  know  not ;  yet  through  mercy  there  was 
nothing  broke,  nor  any  injury  sustained,  other  than  the 
fright  to  the  horse.  Oh  may  my  heart  ever  be  in  heaven.  A 
Finding  my  system  very  much  exhausted,  I  took  dinner  with 
a  plain  pious  family,  in  Perry ville,  consisting  of  a  bi  other 
and  two  sisters,  by  the  name  of  Noble.  Bro.  Eggleston 
dined  with  me.  After  much  labor  for  my  horse,  in  the  heat 
and  upon  the  tough  road,  I  reached  Charlestown  early  in  the 
evening,  having  traveled  about  thirty-two  miles.  Met  Bro. 
Eggleston.  I  put  up  with  sister  Tomlinson.  Her  husband 
from  home. 

Saturday,  2nd — This  has  been  an  idle  day.  The  most 
oppressive  of  all  other  labors;  wrote  a  few  letters,  and  read 
a  few  papers  and  slept  again. 

SuUxjJth,  3rd — The  weather  still  sultry  and  warm.  Preach- 
ed to  a  small  congregation  for  Bro.  Eggleston  ;  no  light  life, 
light,  or  liberty,  llode  out  to  a  school-house  and  preached 
to  a  good  congregation  of  sinners.  Rode  home  with  sister 
Yates,  James  Walker's  daughter  ;  very  kind,  rich  people, 
A  fine  rain.  Sister  Yates  called  to  see  her  husband's  sister 
who  has  just  had  her  leg  broken.  Oh  uncertain,  delusive 
world.  Save  me,  oh  my  God,  from  its  smiles  and  also  from 
the  fear  of  its  power. 

Monday,  4th — This  has  been  a  dreary  day  ;  the  church 
and  the  children  away  in  the  woods,  frolicking,  I,  however, 
spent  the  day  at  Bro.  Brown's.  Had  sent  an  appointment  to 
Harper'^)  Ferry ;  it  was  not  delivered.  A  large  number  of 


158  SKETCH  OF 

harvest  hands,  white  and  colored,  were  present  at  night,  and 
I  gave  them  an  exhortation,  before  and  after  prayer. 

Tuesday,  blh — Game  up  to  town  and  spent  rather  an  idle 
day  again.  Met  Bro.  Eggleston's  class  at  three  o'clock.  The 
most  fashionable  and  gay  dressed  individual  in  the  class  was 
a  Methodist  preacher's  daughter.  No  marvel  now.  Preach- 
ed to  a  good  congregation,  on  temperance,  at  night,  with 
some  liberty  and  1  hope  good  effect.  Bro.  W.  G.  Eggleston 
gave  a  most  pointed  and  severe  exhortation. 

Wednesday  Qth  — Have  not  as  usual  heard  from  my  books, 
which  should  have  reached  town  yesterday.  I  left  on  horse- 
back with  some  books,  and  left  my  wagon  to  be  sent  on  to 
me  on  Saturday.  Dined  at  Smithfield,  and  stopped  for  the 
night,  with  Bro.  J.  Payne. 

Thursday,  7th — Rode  into  Winchester.  Stopped  with  Bro. 
Nulton,  a  kind  man;  he  immediately  published  an  appoint- 
ment for  me  to  preach  at  night.  There  was  a  good  congre- 
gation :  they  were  attentive  and  I  preached  with  some  com- 
fort. 

Friday,  8th — Preached  this  morning  at  five  o'clock.  Only 
a  few  out.  Surely  the  Lord  Jesus  "must  spue  us  out  of  his 
mouth.  Left  after  breakfast  and  rode  to  Newtown;  stopped 
with  Bro.  Alemony  ;  he  appears  to  be  a  zealous  and  kind 
man,  but  there  is  something  which  I  cannot  understand. 
Eternity  will  unfold  all  secret  things.  Then  shall  we  return 
and  discern  between  him  that  serveth  God,  and  him  that 
serveth  Him  not.  An  appointment  was  agreed  upon  to 
preach,  but  the  Lutheran  brethren  were  about  holding  a  Sac- 
ramental meeting,  I  was  requested  to  preach  in  their  church. 
There  was  a  tolerable  congregation,  but  dull,  and  all  seemed 
to  be  dark  amidst  a  profusion  of  light. 

Saturday,  9//i — Left  Newtown.  Stopped  in  Winchester. 
Sold  an  old  blind  man,  named  Sterritt,  some  books  at  half 
price  to  sell  again  ;  he  is  supporting  himself  in  this  honorable 
way.  Rode  to  John  Payne's  and  preached  to  a  good  con- 
gregation at  five  o'clock.  So  ends  another  week. 

Saibath  Wth. — Rode  five  miles  to  Smithfield,  met  Bro. 
Eggleston,  and  preached  to  a  good  congregation  at  eleven 
o'clock,  with  much  liberty,  closeness  and  effect.  Praise  the 
Lord.  Rode  up  with  Bro.  Harley  in  his  buggy  to  Lee  Town 


JOHN  HERSEY.  159 

and  preached  to  a  handful  of  hearers  ;  the  rain  having  kept 
the  congregation  from  assembling.  Returned  and  spent  the 
night  with  Bro.  Barley. 

Monday,  llth — A  leisure  day  ;  what  a  shame.  Took  din- 
ner with  James  Gr ,  a  rich  'man  ;  had  very  little  com- 
fort or  benefit :  all  belongs  to  the  world,  children  and  all. 

Called  to  see  his  brother,   William   Gr ;  he  is  more 

pious,  but  all  is  not  right  here.  Oh,  this  delusive  world ; 
a  bankrupt,  and  yet  his  daughter  dresses  extravagantly,  and 
is  just  from  a  Baltimore  boarding-school.  Preached  on  tem- 
perance in  Smithfield  at  night  to  a  good  congregation  ;  plain 
but  too  rough.  Lord  in  mercy  forgive  me. 

Tuesday,  12th—  Left  Smithfield  after  breakfast;  horse 
behaved  only  tolerably  well.  Came  to  Mr.  Ruckle's  and 
found  'an  appointment  made  to  preach  at  night ;  had  a  small 
congregation  of  still  hearers  ;  preached  plainly,  but  witli  lit- 
tle liberty  and  effect. 

Wednesday,  13th — This  morning  sold  out  all  my  encum- 
brances to  Bro.  Ruckle,  horse,  wagon,  harness,  saddle,  &c., 
for  one  hundred  and  forty-five  dollars.  I  am  now  foot  loose 
and  alone  in  the  world.  Lord,  in  mercy  direct  my  way. 
Came  to  Shepherdstown  ;  stopped  with  Bro.  Thos.  Hersey,  a 
plain,  kind,  good  family.  Preached  at  eight  o'clock  To  a 
good  congregation,  with  plainness  and  some  effect. 

Thursday,  14th — Preached  this  morning  to  a  very  small 
flock  at  five  o'clock.  Sold  some  books.  Walked  over  to 
Sharpsburg,  where  I  met  Bro.  Monroe  and  others  from 

Boonsboro.     Heard  Bro.  M preach   a  funeral  sermon. 

Came  in  the  stage  to  Boonsboro,  and  stopped  with  Bro. 
Kendle,  a  printer.  He  was  rather  too  late  to  make  an 
appointment  to  preach. 

Friday,  15th — Left  B in  the   stage  ;  had  to   ride   on 

the  top  ;  a  very  unpleasant  seat.  Stopped  at  Middletown 
with  Bro.  Haugby,  who  is  getting  rich.  Called  to  see  some  of 
the  friends.  Made  an  appointment  and  preached  at  night  to 
a  few.  None  of  Bro.  Haugby's  family  were  out.  Oh  the 
danger  and  deceitfulness  of  riches.  Who  can  resist  their 
fatal  influences? 

Saturday,  IQth — Was  disappointed  in  getting  a  passage  to 
Frederick  City.  Left  Middletown  with  Bro.  Dill  and  visited 


160  SKETCH  OF 

doctor  Marlow,  where  we  spent  the  night.     Oh  the  influences 
of  this  wicked  world.     Lord  save  us. 

Sunday,  17th — Called  to  see  a  very  deeply  afflicted  sister, 
Preached  at  J  efferson  to  a  good  congregation  with  some  liber- 
ty, but  too  long.  Took  dinner  with  Bro.  Sparrow.  Preach- 
ed to  a  good  congregation,  at  three,  in  Z s  house. 

Stopped  all  night  with  old  Bro.  Z ,  who  has  no  family,. 

but  some  colored  people.     A  very  poorly  regulated  family. 
Oh  my  God,  how  little  is   Thy  name  respected,   or  known. 

Monday,  18th — Praise  the  Lord.  I  enjoyed  a  most  comfor- 
table night's  sleep.  Came  into  Frederick  City.  Bro.  Miller 
absent.  Remained  until  three  o'clock,  and  took  the  cars  for 
Baltimore;  arrived  there  about  seven  o'clock  without  injury 

or  accident.    Found  Bro.  W 's  family  all  well.     Praise  the 

Lord  for  all  his  mercies. 

Tuesday,  19th — Called  to  see  some  of  my  old  friends. 
Wrote  some  letters,  and  heard  Bro.  Morgan,  Presiding 
Elder,  preach  at  Eutaw  to  a  small  congregation  ;  a  good  ser- 
mon. 

Wednesday,  2Qth — Left  Baltimore  at  eleven  o'clock,  in  the 
cars,  came  in  safety  to  Elkton.  Praise  the  Lord  for  His 
protection.  Bro.  Way  not  at  home.  Took  his  horse  and  car- 
riage and  rode  to  Bro.  Smith's  house,  where  I  met  my  sister 
in  good  health.  A  kind  man  ;  spent  the  night  comfortably. 

Thursday,  21st — -A  rainy  morning.  Remained  until  after 
dinner,  then  rode  over  to  old  Bro.  Beatty's,  who  is  now  like 
myself,  an  old  man  ;  remained  here  for  the  night.  Oh,  how 
much  is  wanting,  "even  among  us  old  professors  of  the  spirit 
of  Christ.  Humble  love,  holy  zeal  and  deep  devotion. 

Friday,  22nd — Rode  up  to  B.  Shakespear's,  and  spent 
some  time  there.  My  health  not  good.  I  took  dinner. 
Thus  we  glide  away,  and  easily  make  a  compromise  with  the 
flesh  and  the  world.  After  dinner  rode  to  William  Shake- 
spear's  house,  but  as  himself  and  wife  were  from  home,  I 
returned  to  Elkton.  Took  tea  with  sister  Torbert,  and 
preached  to  a  good  congregation  at  night,  but  with  little  lib- 
erty. Put  up  with  Bro.  Kennard ;  though  out  of  the 
church,  he  appears  to  be  a  pious,  good  man. 

Saturday,  23rd — Spent  the  day  in  Elkton  ;  made  some 
visits  ;  called  to  see  a  very  pious,  sensible  young  sister,  who- 


JOHN  HERSEY.  161 

professes  to  enjoy  the  blessing   of   sanctification.     Oh,   th::t 
she  may  be  faithful  until  death. 

Sabbath,  I2i(h — My  health  is  better  this  morning.  Preach- 
ed at  ten  and  a  half  o'clock  in  Elkton,  with  some  liberty  and 
effect.  Bro.  Way  administered  the  Sacrament.  The  mem- 
bers were  dressed  shamefully.  Lord  save  the  church.  Rode 
to  Glasgow  with  Bro.  Way  to  hear  Bro.  Sampson  preach,  but 
he  was  sick  and  did  not  attend.  I  preached  with  much  liber- 
ty and  some  effect.  Returned  and  preached  at  night  in 
Elkton.  I  mistook  my  text  and  preached  for  some  time  on 
another  subject,  than  the  one  I  read  for  my  text ;  however, 
the  Lord  helped  me  and  I  got  back  without  much  difficulty, 
though  it  embarrassed  me  considerably.  Lord  help  me  and 
forgive  all  my  follies,  Through  mercy  I  feel  no  fatigue  of  body 
or  mind.  Praise  the  Lord. 

Monday,  2oth — Rode  down  to  the  camp  this  morning  ; 
found  very  few  on  the  ground.  The  preacher  in  charge  was 
called  away  to  see  his  sister  die.  The  junior  preacher  was 
also*  absent.  I  preached  in  the  evening  to  a  very,  very  few  ; 
cold  and  indifferent,  no  one  to  sing,  no  prayer.  The  pros- 
pect gloomy  in  the  extreme. 

Tuesday,  26fh — This  has  been  a  most  gloomy  day.  It  has 
rained  nearly  all  night  and  all  day,  all  wet  and  gloomy. 
Bro.  Atwood  came  in  the  course  of  the  day.  Preaching  in 
the  tent ;  very  few,  very  cold. 

Wednesday,  27th. — Still  gloomy  ;  I  preached  this  morning 

to  a  few   careless    hearers.     Bro.    preached   at   three 

o'clock,  a  sermon  without  unction.  Preaching  again  at  six 
o'clock;  preachers  coming  in  abundantly.  The  weather  has 
cleared  off  and  prospects  are  brightening,  although  there  is 
little  prospect  of  good  being  done.  I  had  a  very  plain  con- 
versation with  the  Presiding  Elder,  Bro  Atwood,  but  in  good 
feeling. 

Thursday,  28/h. — The  weather  fine.  A  good  congrega- 
tion. Bro.  Way  preached  a  good  sermon,  though  he  reached 
rather  too  high,  and  was  not  as  pointed  and  practical  as  he 
should  have  been.  After  the  sermon  a  collection  was  taken 
up,  to  the  great  annoyance  of  Bro.  Way's  feelings.  At 
three  o'clock  Bro.  Miller  preached  At  six,  Bro.  Humphries 
preached,  but  without  much  feeling  or  effect.  Little  doing. 
In  the  night  a  poor  drunken  soul  came  into  the  camp,  and 


162  SKETCH  OF 

caused  much  disturbance  ;  but  he  soon  went  to  sleep. 

Friday,  29/A. — I  have  sold  very  few  books,  but  all  is 
right.  Bro.  preached  this  morning  without  much  feel- 
ing, or  effect,  and  after  the  congregation  had  become  confused 
and  were  going  away,  the  dinner  bells  having  wrung,  Bro. 
Storks  asked  me  to  exhort ;  I  had  much  liberty,  arrested  the 
current  and  spoke  plainly,  and  then  left  the  ground.  Rode 
with  Bro.  Cantwell  to  Elk;  where  I  took  the  cars  and  came 
to  Baltimore.  In  the  cars,  met  with  Bro.  McCoy,  who  had 
seen  me  at  his  mother's  house  many  years  ago,  but  still  recol- 
lected me.  He  lives  in  Mobile  ;  appears  to  be  a  fine  man  ; 
wished  me  very  much  to  visit  the  South. 

Saturday,  30/A. — :l  have  made  but  few  visits  to-day. 
Have  packed  up  my  books  and  walked  considerably.  The 
weather~  very  warm.  Called  to  see  Bro.  Wilson's  family, 
who  are  deeply  afflicted ;  their  little  son,  some  seven  years 
old,  the  last  time  I  was  there,  had  lost  the  use  of  his  lower 
extremities,  both  feet  and  legs.  The  doctor  said  he  never 
would  recover.  I  prayed  with  the  family  and  for  him  ;  he 
arose  and  threw  away  his  crutches  and  walked  as  usual. 
The  doctor  said  it  was  an  effort  of  nature.  Oh,  infidelity, 
thou  enemy  of  God,  when  wilt  thou  cease  thy  folly? 

Sabbath  3lst. — Walked  down  to  William  street  and  had  my 
appointments  changed  for  this  day.  -  Walked  back  to  Eutaw, 

to  let  Bro.  McM know;  then  returned  to  William  street 

and  preached  to  a  tolerable  good  congregation,  with  some 
liberty  and  I  hope  effect.  Attended  Bro.  Brooks' Sacrament- 
al meeting  at  the  Seamen's  Bethel ;  then  walked  home  and  at 
night  preached  to  a  small  congregation  in  Eutaw  Street 
Church,  with  liberty  and  some  effect ;  and  after  those  labors, 
I  feel  no  effect  of  body  or  mind.  Again  I  say,  praise  the 
Lord,  oh  my  soul. 

Monday,  August  1st. — Last  night  I  had  a  precious  night's 
rest.  Was  much  comforted  and  blessed  in  my  soul.  Praise 
the  Lord.  Left  Baltimore  at  four  o'clock,  in  the  mammoth 
steamboat  for  Tangier  :  we  had  a  number  of  passengers. 
Two  young  females  who  wished  to  pass  for  ladies,  continued 
to  play  back-gammon,  though  I  admonished  them  most  point- 
edly. Bros  Poisal,  Register  and  Brooks — Methodist 
preachers,  and  Bro.  Williams — a  Baptist  preacher,  were  on 
board.  After  supper,  I  preached  a  plain,  pointed  sermon; 


JOHN  HERSEY  163 

all  were  respectful  and  attentive.  Our  Baptist  Bro.  appear- 
ed much  pleased  and  gave  an  appropriate  exhortation.  Spent 
a  good  night  amidst  all  possible  disadvantages.  Praise  the 
Lord. 

T 'ue  day,  2nd — rTo-day  I  am  sixty-seven  years  old.  Sure- 
ly I  may  say  with  Jacob,  ''Few  and  evil  have  been  the  days 
of  my  earthly  pilgrimage."  The  Lord  has  indeed  dealt 
bountifully  with  his  unprofitable  servant.  My  health  is  good 
and  I  am  able  to  do  as  much  labor  now,  as  I  could  thirty  years 
ago ;  seldom  if  ever  feel  any  physical  fatigue,  even  after 
toiling  all  day,  and  after  preaching  three  times  a  day.  This 
is  the  Lord's  doings,  and  it  is  marvellous  in  our  eyes. 
Landed  at  Pongateague  at  about  eight  o'clock.  A  stranger 
took  my  box  of  books  to  Onancock,  whilst  another  took  me 
in  his  carriage,  where  I  met  a  warm  reception  from  kind 
hearted  sister  Hill.  In  the  evening  I  took  Bro.  Hill's  carri- 
age and  rode  down  to  Bro.  Garrettson,  where  our  brethren 
were  and  took  some  books  for  them  to  sell  at  their  camp 
meeting.  We  had,  I  hope,  a  profitable  season  in  this  kind 
family. 

Wednesday,  3rd — After  breakfast  rode  back  to  Bro.  Hill's, 
when  I  called  to  see  a  few  friends,   and   in  the  evening  rode 
'down  with  Bro.  Dobson  to   Bro.    Ed.    Poulson's,    where    we 
remained  all  night.     Mosquitos  rather  troublesome. 

Thursday,  4th — This  morning  all  is  bustle;  the  boat  is 
going  over  to  the  island  for  camp  meeting.  I  had  a  uncomfort- 
able night ;  the  cramp  annoyed  me  some,  but  it  is  all  right. 
Praise  the  Lord,  oh  my  soul.  We  were  much  lumbered  up 
in  the  boat;  the  wind  was  ahead,  blowing  fresh,  which  pre- 
vented us  from  reaching  the  island  until  about  one  or  two 
o'clock.  Found  it  a  desolate  looking  place,  a  sandy  beach. 
All  was  bustle ;  could  not  get  ready  for  preaching,  so  the 
day  and  night  passed  without  any  religious  services.  Mos- 
quitos not  bad. 

Friday,  5th — Had  a  tolerable  good  night's  rest.  Fasted 
only  from  my  breakfast ;  took  dinner  and  preached  with  lib- 
erty and  effect  at  three  o'clock ;  several  mourners  have  come 

forward  and  appearances  are  favorable.  Bro.  preached 

at  night,  a  very  inefficient  sermon,  yet  there  was  quite  a  stir 
and  a  number  of  mourners. 

Saturday,    6th — My   health   not  good.     A   good   prayer 


164  SKETCH  OF 

meeting  at  eight.  I  preached  at  ten,  from  "Casting  four 
anchor  and  wishing  for  day,"  without  much  effect,  yet  there 
were  a  number  of  mourners.  At  three  Bro.  Brindle  preach- 
ed a  good  sermon  with  good  effect.  Bro.  Leatherbury 
preached  at  night  very  inefficiently,  yet  a  good  work  went  on. 

Sabbath,  1th — Two  boats  arrived  from  Baltimore,  with  five, 
or  six  hundred  human  beings ;  no  advantage  to  the  meeting 
and  no  credit  to  thems3lves.  Dr.  Williams  preached  at  ten 
a  good  sermon,  but  not  the  doctrine  of  the  text.  Bro.  Gray 
preached  at  half  past  two  o'clock  a  long,  long,  uninteresting 
talk  ;  many  went  to  sleep,  others  walked  away ;  but  Bro. 
Evans  rallied  the  people  mightily,  and  there  was  a  good 
time.  I  preached  at  night  with  much  liberty  and  physical 
energy — a  powerful  time, 

Monday,  8th — I  expected  to  leave  for  Baltimore  after 
breakfast,  but  did  not  get  off  till  after  morning  preaching. 
Bro.  Brindle  preached  and  exhorted,  after  which  we  embark- 
ed on  board  the  schooner  Jasper,  Capt.  Gaskins,  for  Balti- 
more. Got  becalmed  ;  however,  the  wind  soon  sprung  up  and 
we  had  a  fine  run.  The  weather  very  hot  and  the  cabin  very 
dirty  ;  a  most  gloomy  place. 

Tuesday,  9/A — Last  night  I  sat  up  and  slept  in  my  chair. 
The  wind  left  us  in  the  night  and  about  eleven  o'clock  I  had 
the  mortification  to  see  the  steamboat  pass  within  a  few  miles 
but  could  not  reach  her,  so  I  am  doomed  to  this  place  another 
night.  It  was  right  hard  to  say  fully,  "Thy  will  be  done  ;" 
yet  I  thank  the  Lord  for  disappointment.  Passed  a  lonely, 
barren  day  in  heat. 

Wednesday,  Wth — This  morning  reached  Baltimore  early, 
but  too  late  to  go  on  to  the  camp  meeting  in  the  Philadelphia 
boat.  Fixed  up  some  books  and  prepared  for  an  early  start. 
My  room  is  a  most  uncomfortable  place,  very,  very  hot.  I 
could  with  difficulty  sleep. 

Thursday,  \\th — Left  Baltimore  at  half  past  six  in  the 
steamboat  for  the  Red  Lion  camp  meeting  ;  had  an  interest- 
ing conversation  on  board  the  boat.  Reached  the  camp 
ground  about  twelve  o'clock.  An  immense  crowd  of  people 
here.  There  had  been,  so  I  was  told,  sixty  preachers  there. 
I  met  with  some  old  acquaintances.  Spent  the  time  not  very 
profitably.  It  was  'with  some  difficulty  I  got  a  place  to 
sleep. 


JOHN  HERSEY.  165 

Friday  12th. — Through  mercy  I  had  a  good  night's  rest, 
and  preached  to  a  very  large  congregation  at  five  o'clock  ; 
most  solemn  and  attentive.  Mentioned  my  book  and  sold 
nearly  all  of  them  before  night.  I  say  nothing  about  the 
preaching  ;  my  views  are  not  in  accordance  with  the  views  of 
the  present  day.  At  a -late  hour  left  the  camp,  reached  Elk- 
ton  about  midnight ;  stayed  with  Bro.  Bradbury. 

Saturday,  13th — Had  a  few  hours  of  comfortable  sleep, 
and  took,  the  cars  at  half  past  ten  and  reached  Baltimore, 
about  one  o'clock.  Arranged  my  book  and  left  for  Shrews- 
bury camp  at  five  o'clock ;  reached  the  camp  ground  about 
dark.  A  large  encampment.  Found  a  comfortable  berth  in 
the  preachers'  tent  and  slept  well.  A  goodly  number  of 
preachers. 

Sunday,  14th — Bro.  Busey  preached  at  eight  o'clock.  I 
exhorted  after  him,  with  liberty  and  feeling.  Bro.  Moi'gani 
preached  at  ten  o'clock,  a  good  sermon,  but  too  long,  not 
much  excitement.  At  three  o'clock  Bro.  Collins  preached  a 
long,  dry  sermon,  and  at  night  Bro.  Brown  preached  very 
pointed,  some  mourners  and  some  feeling. 

Monday,  15<h — I  preached  at  five  o'clock  to  a  good  con- 
gregation, which  was  late  in  meeting,  not  much  liberty  or 
feeling  ;  mentioned  my  books  and  sold  nearly  all  I  had,  in. 
little  more  than  an  hour.  Took  the  cars  and  came  again  to 
Baltimore  about  one  o'clock.  Still  very  warm. 

Tuesday,  16th — A  warm  night — slept  but  little  ;  left  Balti- 
more in  steamboat  at  Y  o'clock :  because  they  had  an  open  bar 
in  the  boat,  I  would  not  take  dinner,  although  it  was  inclu- 
ded in  the  passage  asked  ;  I  had  paid  the  full  charge.  Quite 
a  number  of  Methodists  on  board  going  to  the  camp :  reached 
Princess  Anne  between  four  and  five  o'clock.  Stopped  with 
Bro.  Humphries  and  found  Bro.  Sedler  waiting  for  me.  I 
rode  with  him  and  stayed  all  night  at  his  home  in  Potatoe- 
Neck. 

Wednesday,  lltli — Rode  out  with  Bro.  Sedler  and  his  son, 
to  the  camp.     Met  with  many  of  my  old  friends ;  Bro.   R. 
Waters  was  quite  grieved  and  offended,   because  I  did  not 
know  him,  whom  I  had  not  seen  for  fifteen  years,  more,  or 
less.     Lord  help  and  forgive  my  sins.     Preached  to  a  large 
congregation  at  three  o'clock,   with  some   liberty  and  effect. 
Bro.  Hill  preached  at  night.     There  came  up  a  storm  ;  I  had 


166  SKETCH  OF 

to  leave  my  berth  and  lay  on  the  ground  with  a  few  clothes 
under  me,  and  my  saddle  bag  for  a  pillow.  Yet  praise  the 
Lord,  I  felt  no  harm. 

Thursday,  18th — I  read  and  exhorted  at  eight  o'clock; 
said  some  very  plain  things.  Bro.  Daily  preached  at  ten.  It 
rained,  but  the  people  were  quiet  and  Attentive.  At  three 
Bro.  Quigg  preached:  and  at  night,  although  the  ground  was 
still  wet  and  raining,  I  preached ;  the  congregation  was  very 
large  ;  part  of  it  very  attentive  in  the  rain,  but  part  were  very 
unsettled  and  refractory  ;  there  were  several  converts.  Had  a 
good  night's  rest. 

Friday,  IQth — After  breakfast  I  left  the  camp,  rode  to  Bro. 
Williams',  near  Newtown,  where  we  were  kindly  treated 

Took  dinner  with  Bro.    W ,    who    is    now   eighty-eight 

years  old,  and  quite  active — hears  well.  Came  on  to  Snow 
Hill  and  stopped  with  Bro.  A.  W.  Williams. 

Saturday,  20th — Called  to  see  several  families  and  walked 
out  to  the  camp.  Found  the  best  accomodations  for  the  col- 
ored people  that  I  have  found.  Preached  at  three  to  a 
small  congregation  with  liberty  and  effect.  Bro.  Dobson 
preached  at  night ;  not  much  feeling. 

Sabbath  21st. — The  colored  people  kept  up  their  meeting, 
without  let,  or  hindrance  through  the  night.  Bro.  Daily 
preached  a  very  short  sermon  at  half  past  ten  o'clock.  No 
feeling,  or  interest.  I  preached  at  three  to  a  large  congrega- 
tion ;  although  quite  sick,  I  had  strength  and  liberty,  and 
quifce  an  excitement  followed.  Bro.  Sommers  preached  at 
night,  very  dry,  no  light,  no  life,  no  liberty,  So  ended  the 
day,  with  but  little  visible  good  effected. 

Monday,    22nd — Very    little    devotional   feeling    on    the 

ground.     Bro.  ,  from  Berlin,  preached  an  unprofitable 

sermon  from  an  important  text.  I  mentioned  my  books  de- 
liberately, and  scarcely  sold  any  of  them ;  where  I  expected 
to  do  much,  I  did  scarcely  nothing.  I  did  feel  disappoin- 
ted, but  that  is  good  and  profitable  for  the  soul.  Bro.  Hazard, 
a  local  preacher,  preached  at  three  ;  made  a  wonderful  effort, 
felt,  or  feigned  much;  but  little  effect.  Bro.  Magee  preach- 
ed at  night,  with  much  zeal. 

Tuesday,  23rd — I  preached  at  half  past  ten  with  some 
liberty.  There  was  much  feeling  in  the  congregation,  and  a 


JOHN  HEESEY.  167 

number  of  mourners.  Left  the  ground  immediately  and  came 
to  Snow  Hill,  where  Bro.  J.  P.  Robins  met  and  took  me  on 
to  Princess  Anne,  where  I  preached  to  a  good  congregation, 
with  more  ease  and  liberty  than  usual,  and  felt  no  percepti- 
ble fatigue.  Oh  for  a  heart  to  praise  my  Lord.  God  is  good, 
and  that  my  soul  knoweth  right  well. 

Wednesday,  24?A — Left  Princess  Anne  this  morning  in 
company  with  Bro.  J.  P.  Robins,  for  Baltimore.  Again  I 
choose  not  to  eat  on  board  the  boat  where  they  keep  a  public 
bar.  After  dinner,  the  passengers  assembled  on  the  upper 
deck,  and  I  preached  to  them ;  felt  however,  but  little  liberty; 
yet  will  not  all  the  seed  fall  to  the  ground.  Reached  Bal- 
timore about  sunset.  Heard  that  Tarring  was  buried  this 
evening.  Oh  death,  how  wide  thy  conquests,  and  how  felt 
thy  power. 

Thursday,  25f/i — Have  called  to  see  a  few  of  my  friends. 
I  am  not  clear  on  the  subject  of  the  mission  here  ;  they  are 
however  desirous  that  I  should  take  it.  Have  written  some 
letters.  Declined  attending  church,  because  1  did  not  wish 
iny  friends,  especially  the  poor,  to  think  I  was  in  the  city, 
and  did  not  call  on  them.  Perhaps  this  is  wrong,  as  error 
marks  nearly  all  I  do.  Lord  help  me. 

Friday,  26</t — Last  night  my  sleep  was  disturbed  by  alarm- 
ing and  impressive  dreams.  I  greatly  fear  that  not  only  the 
church,  but  the  ministers  generally,  are  under  bondage  to  the 
world  ;  I  am  myself  bound  by  that  unholy  bondage.  I  fear 
we  are  courting  the  smiles  of  the  world,  whilst  we  should 
alarm  their  guilty  consciences,  by  plain  gospel  truths.  Last 

night  Bro.   's  daughter  came  in  at   the  time  that  the 

young  men  came  from  the  store  ;  she  and  Laura  behaved  very 
bad  ;  sung  and  laughed  and  trifled  very  much  with  sacred 
things,  and  refused  to  come  in  to  prayer.  She  is  a  popular 
preacher's  daughter.  If  the  blind  lead  the  blind,  both  must 
fall  into  the  ditch.  My  mind  has  been  seriously  exercised 
about  changing  my  boarding  house  ;  this  step  will  be  painful 

to  rny  own  feelings  and  also  to  sister  W ,  yet  it  may  be 

prudent  and  necessary.  Lord  in  mercy  direct  my  steps  wise- 
ly. At  half  past  three  o'clock,  I  had  arranged  to  leave  in 
the  cars  for  Georgetown,  but  my  trunk  was  not  sent  down, 
until  the  cars  started.  Thus  will  mercy  come,  after  the  door 
of  heaven  is  closed,  and  we  have  no  apology  to  offer.  Lord 
help  ine  to  watch  and  pray,  that  I  may  be  ready  and  account- 


168  SKETCH  OF 

ted  worthy  to  enter  into  the  marriage  supper  of  the  Lamb.  I 
met  with  Bro.  Breaks,  took  supper  with  him  at  Bro.  Young's. 
Preached  for  him  to  a  good  congregation  in  the  Bethel. 
Stayed  all  night  with  Bro.  Kramer. 

Saturday,  (27th — Left  Baltimore  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  cars. 
Reached  Georgetown  after  eleven  o'clock.  Was  very  kindly 
received  in  the  street  by  Bro.  Edes  and  others,  Spent  the 
night  with  my  nephew,  A.  E.  Eliason;  his  youngest  son  very 
sick. 

Salbath,  28</i — A  pleasing  change  in  the  weather.  Open- 
ed Bro.  Edes  Sunday  School  at  nine  o'clock;  after  an  exhorta- 
tion, I  read  the  Sunday  School  teacher's  dream,  which  made 
a  deep  impression  upon  the  children,  as  well  as  the  teachers. 
Preached  at  eleven  o'clock  to  a  large  congregation  in  the  M. 
E.  Church ;  there  was  profound  attention;  I  had  liberty  and 
hope  the  seed  will  not  all  be  lost.  Took  dinner  with  Bro. 
Edes  and  at  three  o'clock  preached  for  the  colored  friends 
with  liberty  and  some  effect.  Called  out  with  Bro.  Edes  to 

see  the  poor  man  Mr. condemned  to  be  hung,  but  there 

were  with  him  three  ministers  arid  two  lawyers,  so  that  I  did 
not  go  in.  Returned  to  Georgetown  and  preached  for  the 
Methodist  Protestants,  at  8  o'clock,  to  a  good  congregation 
with  comfort  to  my  own  soul  and  feeling  to  the  congregation. 
Thus  ends  another  precious  Sabbaj^r  day.  Lord,  in  mercy  for- 
give the  wrong  this  day  and  help  me  to  be  better,  and  do 
belter  Amen. 

Monday,  29M, — It  was  not  convenient  to  get  a  passage  to 

the  camp  and  I  remained  in  Georgetown.  Called  to  see 

the  man  to  be  hung  on  Friday  ;  he  was  perfectly  reckless ; 
knew  as  much  as  any  man  could  teach  him;  was  unwilling 
that  I  should  pray  with  him.  Poor  mortal,  the  way  of  the 
transgressor  is  hard.  Took  dinner  with  Bro.  T.  Brown  ;  not 
much  satisfaction.  Paid  a  few  vists.  Took  tea  with  S. 
Rand. 

Tuesday,  30M — Left  Georgetown  in  a  'hack  with  Bros. 
Brown  and  Brison  for  the  camp.  Reached  the  ground  about 
eleven  o'clock.  Heard  Edwards  preach.  Bro.  Young  preach- 
ed in  the  afternoon,  a  very  long  sermon,  and  Bro.  G 

gave  a  long  exhortation.  At  night  I  preached  with  liberty 
and  considerable  effect ;  there  were  a  number  of  mourners 
came  forward.  There  are  a  great  many  preachers.  Too 
many. 


JOHN  HERSEY.  169 

Wednesday,  31s/. — Bro.  Thomas  Sewell  preached  at  eleven 
a  fine  sermon;  no  effect,  all  dull.  At  three  o'clock,  Bro. 
Brison  preached ;  he  was  too  rough ;  it  had  very  little  effect. 
At  night  Bro.  Prettyman  preached,  but  with  little  feeling  and 
effect.  Some  mourners  went  forward  and  quite  a  work  en- 
sued. 

Thursday,  September  1st. — I  slept  tolerably  well  last  night, 
and  have  attended  my  morning  hour  of  prayer  before  the 
other  brethren  were  up  Bro.  James  Henning  preached 
this  morning  at  eleven  o'clock,  a  popular,  zealous  sermon ; 
much  feeling,  yet,  but  few  mourners  came  forward.  Bro. 
Samuel  Smith  preached  at  three  o'clock,  a  long,  long  sermon 
to  the  young,  without  much  feeling,  or  effect.  Bro.  Trone 
preached  at  night,  a  very  plain  talk,  and  when  he  spoke  of 
tobacco  and  other  idols,  Bro.  Wilson,  Presiding  Elder,  arose 
and  left  the  stand ;  no  feeling,  no  excitement,  yet  were  there 
some  mourners. 

Friday,  2nd — I  took  no  breakfast.  Bro.  Ball  preached  at 
eleven  o'clock,  a  good  sermon  for  these  days.  A  collection 
was  then  taken,  after  which  the  Sacrament  was  administered. 
It  was  not  a  profitable  season.  At  three  it  rained  and  there 
was  no  preaching.  At  night  Bro.  Wilson  preached  and  Bro. 
Jas.  Henning  gave  a  powerful  exhortation  ;  there  were  quite 
a  number  of  mourners,  and  the  meeting  was  kept  up  during 
the  night.  There  was  great  disorder  towards  day,  the  row- 
dies having  taken  the  ground ;  it  was  agreed  that  I  should 
preach  to  them,  which  I  attempted  with  some  liberty  ;  the  out- 
laws quieted  down  and  generally  came  into  the  congregation, 
and  we  had  a  peaceable,  and  I  hope,  profitable  time. 

Saturday,  3rd, — After  preaching  at  five  o'clock,  the  camp 
came  to  a  close.  There  was  received  about  thirty-three 
names,  who  professed  to  have  been  converted.  I  came  with 
William  Dulin  to  his  father's  and  sent  my  trunk  to  George- 
town. Al.-is,  the  ravages  of  time,  the  vanity  of  all  earthly 
things.  Ihre  under  this  roof  I  spent  mini/  of  my  early  sin- 
ful days,  but  now  how  changed  Bro.  Dulin,  an  old  infirm 
man,  his  son  whom  I  used  to  nurse  on  my  knee,  is  now  an  old 
man,  his  mother  is  gone,  and  his  aunt,  an  ex&Jlent  young 
woman,  to  whom.  I  was  much  attached  in  early  life,  gone  also 
and  the  entire  picture  is  changed  into  a  withered,  gloomy 
scene,  which  will  very  soon  be  erased  from  memory's  book. 
Lord,  save  me  from  this  general  wreck,  and  make  me,  one  of 


170  SKETCH  OF 

Thy  servants — though  least  of  all — so  pure,  that  he  may  live 
forever,  and  behold  Thy  glory  in.  an  unchanging  and  un- 
dying world. 

Sabbath,  4th. — A  very  wet  morning.  I  rode"  up  with 
William  Dulin  to  the  Court  House  and  preached  with  liberty 
and  much  plainness  to  a  large  congregation.  Bro.  W.  W. 
Welsh,  the  preacher  who  was  to  take  me  to  his  afternoon 
appointment,  excused  himself  and  sent  a  youth  with  me. 
His  apology  was,  that  he  had  to  preach  at  night.  I  greatly 
fear  that  the  glory  has  departed  from  our  Israel.  I  rode 
about  seven  miles  to  Anandale  and  preached  to  a  tolerable 
congregation,  with  much  plainness  and  son:e  liberty,  but  the 
meat  was  too  strong,  they  could  not,  as  usual,  shout  under  it. 
Bro.  Cox  then  took  me  in  his  wagon,  over  a  very  tough, 
hilly,  muddy  road,  nine  or  ten  miles,  to  Georgetown.  We 
reached  the  top  of  the  hill  after  sunset.  I  walked  over  into 
town,  carrying  my  saddle  bags,  over-coat  and  umbrella  about 
a  mile.  Reached  Bro.  Edes  a  few  minutes  before  the 
preaching  hour,  in  a  complete  perspiration  ;  yet  blessed  be 
God,  not  weary,  or  fatigued.  I  preached  in  Georgetown  to  a 
large  congregation,  with  much  liberty  and  as  much  physi- 
cal energy,  as  usual  at  any  time.  There  was  a  solemn  feel- 
ing, and  seven  mourners  came  forward.  Thus  ends  the  labors 
of  another  Sabbath  day,  more,  much  more  than  usual,  and 
yet  through  the  extraordinary  go'odness  of  God,  I  feel  little, 
or  no  physical  fatigue.  Praise  the  Lord,  oh  my  soul.  Long 
as  I  live,  will  I  praise  the  Lord. 

Monday,  5//t. — Retired  last  night  about  eleven  o'clock  and 
was  much  annoyed  with  the  cramps ;  had  to  rise  and  walk 
the  room  four  times,  yet  I  arose  at  four  o'clock  and  was  more 
animated  in  attending  my  reading  lessons  than  usual.  Sure- 
ly God  is  good  and  that  my  soul  knoweth  right  well. 
Preached  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  M.  E.  Church  to  a  small  con- 
gregation, with  liberty  and  profit,  I  hope.  It  was  a  search- 
ing time.  Took  dinner  with  Bro.  Brison,  and  preached  at 
night  to  a  tolerably  good  congregation.  A  number  of  mourn- 
ers, four  of  whom  professed  conversion.  f  -Stayed  all  night 
with  Bro.  Ryan. 

Tuesday,  6th. — Paid  some  visits  among  the  poor  and 
preached  at  half  past  ten  to  a,  very  small  congregation,  with 
liberty  aud  plainness,  but  little  effect.  Took  dinner  with 
Astury  Eliason.  Paid  some  visits  and  preached  at  night  to 


JOHN  HERSEY.  I?1 

a  good  congregation,  with  liberty  and  some  effect;  there 
were  present  six,  or  seven  mourners.  Stayed  all  night  with 
Bro.  Dickson  ;  had  a  comfortable  night's  sleep;  very  little 
cramp. 

Wednesday,  7th — Took  an  early  breakfast.  Left  George- 
town in  an  omnibus  at  seven  o'clock  and  Washington  at  eight 
in  the  cars,  reaching  Baltimore  twenty  minutes  before  ten 
o'clock.  Oh,  how  rapidly  we  whirl  through  this  evil  world, 
urging  and  hastening  our  way  down  to  destruction.  Found 
things  in  the  city  much  as  they  have  been  ;  all,  all  pressing 
onward  to  death  and  ruin.  Oh  how  little  they  think  of  God, 
His  presence,  His  purity,  His  power. 

Thursday,  8th — Called  to  see  sofno  of  my  old  friends  and 
at  night  went  to  hear  Professor  Wentworth  preach  at  Colum- 
bia Street  Church,  where  there  is  a  great  excitement ;  the 
altar  is  crowded  with  mourners.  The  sermon  was  below  his 
ordinary  standard. 

Friday,  9/A — Have  been  busy  writing  and  delivering  no- 
tices to  the  managers  for  a  B)ard  maeting  on  Monday  night. 
Have  not  felt  so  well  since  my  return.  It  has  been  a  very  wet 
day.  I  walked  through  the  rain  down  to  Federal  Hill  and 
preached  to  a  small  congregation  in  William  Street  Church  ; 
one  professed  to  receive  pardon  Stayed  all  night  at  Bro. 
Armstrong's  house. 

Saturday  Wth. — Finished  giving  notices,  or  nearly  so. 
Bro.  E.  C.  Thomas  gave  me  five  dollars  for  the  poor.  I  paid 
off  all  the  arrearages  for  bread  in  my  absence,  and  am  now 
prepared  to  enter  anew  on  the  work  of  mercy.  Visited  Bro. 
Wilson's  afflicted  family ;  found  them  as  usual,  cheerful, 
grateful  and  happy.  The  little  boy  whom  God  healed  of  his 
lameness  is  still  well  and  cheerful.  Oh,  for  more  faith  and 
humility.  Lord  forgive  and  help  tne. 

Sabbath,  llth — Preached  thih  morning  at  William  Street 
Church  to  a  large  congregation,  on  the  subject  of  '-Faith." 
with  some  liberty.  Dined  with  Bro.  Bell.  Heard  Bro.  W. 
Haven  preach  at  the  Sailors'  Bethel  at  three  o'clock.  I 
preached  at  Eutaw  Street  Church  at  niglit  with  some  liberty, 
much  plainness  and  some  effect.  One  fine  young  man  came 
up  as  a  mourner.  Thus  another  precious  Sabbath  has  gone, 
and  has  been  very  poorly  improved. 


172  SKETCH    OF 

Monday,  12/7i. — I  had  this  morning  a  slight  attack  of  the 
cholera  morbus. 

Tuesday,  13th. — Beginning  of  Board  month.  Called  to 
see  some  of  my  old  friends.  One,  a  member  of  our  church, 
who  has  been  confined  to  her  bed  more  than  three  months, 
during  that  time  her  leader  has  not  been  to  see  her.  She  has 
three  little  children  to  support,  and  is  indeed  a  woman  of 
sorrow ;  yet  her  house  wears  the  appearance  of  industry  :  it 
is  neat  and  clean.  Preached  at  Columbia  Street  Church  at 
night,  quite  a  crowd  of  people,  and  the  altar  filled  with  seek- 
ers. The  Board  met  and  elected  me  for  the  ensuing  year,  at 
the  same  compensation  given  last  year.  Lord,  in  mercy 
grant  me  wisdom  and  grace,  to  do  much  better  than  the  past 
year. 

Wednesday,  1.4th — Have  called  to  see  some  sick  and  desti- 
tute people.  They  naturally  look  for  pecuniary  aid.  It  is  not 
easy  to  abolish  established  laws  or  customs.  Having  an  ap- 
pointment to  preach  at  the  Seamen's  Bethel,  I  went  in  a 
storm  of  rain,  and  got  pretty  wet;  preached  to  a  little  flock, 
and  stayed  with  Bro.  Gr.  Brooks. 

Thursday,  15th  — This  has  been  a  day  of  very  little  effort. 
I  have  felt  rather  dull  and  unbelieving.  Have  visited  sever- 
al families  of  diversified  character.  Preached  to  a  large 
congregation  at  William  Street  Church,  with  some  liberty  and 
feeling,  yet  were  there  but  few  mourners.  Returned  home  in 
a  perspiration.  Air  quite  cool. 

Friday,  16th. — I  have  felt  less  inconvenience  from  fasting 
to-day  than  usual ;  yet  there  is  so  much  formality  in  its  obser- 
vance, that  the  benefit  is  paralysed.  Lord,  help  me  to  be 
more  spiritual.  Made  some  interesting  visits  to  my  old 
friends,  who  wore  very  glad  to  see  me.  Attended  the  preach- 
ers' meeting.  The  difference  between  Justification  and  Sanc- 
tification  was  discussed.  The  sentiments  on  that  subject, 
which  I  expressed  a  few  years  ago,  were  condemned  by  the 
Church  as  dangerous  and  heretical ;  now  they  are  avowed  and 
defended  by  a  large  majority  of  the  preachers,  and  one  Presid- 
ing Elder.  We  had  a  profitable  class-meeting,  though  but 
few  present. 

Saturday,  17th. — Was  considerably  annoyed  last  night; 
caused  me  to  loose  much  sleep.  My  soul  was  greatly  refresh- 
ed and  my  eyes  melted  into  tears,  in  my  devotional  exercises 


JOHN  HERSEY.  173 

this  morning,  particularly  in  reading  the  inimitable  account 
of  Joseph's  discovery  by  his  brethren.  Have  visited  several 
sick  families  ;  was  compelled  to  relieve  their  wants.  Have 
been  taking  thought  for  a  coming  day,  by  searching  for  a 
place  to  deposit  wood  for  the  Winter  ;  yet  no  anxious  thought. 
All  shall  be  well,  if  my  heart  is  pure,  and  I  do  my  duty 
faithfully. 

Subbath,  18th. — Opened  Wesley  Chapel  Sunday  School, 
with  exhortation.  Preached  at  the  Causeway  Mission  Chapel 
for  Bro.  Day.  Walked  down  and  held  a  prayer  meeting  at 
the  Mission  Chapel  on  Light  street  extended  ;  three  mourners 
came  forward.  Rode  up  with  Bro.  Alwine  and  preached  at 
Emory  at  night,  with  some  liberty,  to  a  small  congregation. 
Lord,  in  mercy,  pardon  the  errors  of  this  day  and  enter  not 
into  judgment  with  Thy  servant. 

Monday,  19</i. — This  day  I  have  visited  some  of  my  old 
friends;  some  sick,  others  poor.  None  striving  for  the  king- 
dom of  Heaven,  with  all  their  powers. 

Tuesday,  10th. — Embarked  at  seven  o'clock,  on  board  the 
steamboat  for  Cambridge,  to  buy  or  get  some  wood  for  the 
poor.  Very  few  passengers ;  so  that  my  pride,  or  indiffer- 
ence for  the  cause,  prevented  me  from  preaching  to  the  pas- 
sengers. Reached  Cambridge  at  half  past  twelve ;  stopped 
with  Hro.  Straughan.  The  place  is  well  nigh  dead,  spiritual- 
ly. Attended  a  funeral  at  three  o'clock;  very,  very  few 
present.  Neither  preacher,  nor  people,  nor  relations  appeared 
to  feel  any  interest  on  the  occasion.  An  appointment  for 
me  to  preach  at  night,  but  rain  prevented.  The  house 
was  not  opened.  If  the  people  can  reach  heaven  in  a  clear 
sunshine,  and  ride  in  a  comfortable  carriage,  some  of  them 
would  condescend  to  enter  in  ;  yet,  there  appears  to  be  a 
few,  a  very  few  even  in  Sardis,  who  have  not  deeply  defiled 
their  garments. 

Wednesday,  2ls£. — Had  an  interview  with  Dr.  Thompson, 
about  some  wood;  I  found  however,  that  his  circumstances 
would  not  justify  him  in  giving  the  wood,  and  the  terms  he 
offered  were  not  important,  so  that  I  declined  buying  any; 
wood  is  generally  scarce  and  high.  Rode  down  with  the 
junior  preacher  to  Bro.  Connor's,  and  preached  to  a  good 
congregation  at  Beckwith's  meeting  house  ;  had  some  liberty 
and  was  very  plain — the  meat  was  for  their  delicate  appetites ; 


174  SKETCH  OF 

rather  too  strong.  Gave  a  rum  selling  friend  a  very  strong 
pill.  I  hope  it  will  operate  well. 

"  27iursJtri/,  2'2nd — Having  failed  in  my  effort  to  get  woody 
I  concluded  to  return  in  the  steamboat  Cecil;  found  a  crowd 
on  board  :  the  captain  a  warm-hearted  Methodist.  I  was 
however,  annoyed  with  one  or  two  men,  who  knew  me.  they 
being  half  drunk.  I  however,  preached  with  some  liberty 
and  I  hope  effect.  The  company  were  very  attentive  and 
respectful,  with  the  exception  of  one  of  my  drinking  friends. 
Strange  that  they  will  keep  rum  to  poison  their  passengers. 
Reached  Baltimore  at  half  past  seven  o'clock.  Thank  the 
Lord  for  his  kind  protection.  Oh,  may  I  be  better  and  do 
better,  than  I  have  ever  yet  been,  or  done. 

Friday,  23rtZ. — Attended  the  preachers'  meeting  this  morn- 
ing. The  subject  of  "The  difference  between  justification 
and  sanctification"  was  continued,  but  without  any  prospect  of 
reconciliation  of  views.  When  doctors  disagree,  what  will 
become  of  the  patients?  A  poor  woman  whom  we  have  been 
assisting  for  sometime,  said,  if  she  had  all  her  children  to- 
gether, she  would  take  them  into  the  woods  and  kill,  them 
and  herself.  Our  class  was  still  and  solemn,  but  I  hope 
profitable. 

Saturday,  24<A. — Praise  the  Lord,  oh  my  soul. 

Sablath,  '25tk — Another  blessed  Sabbath  morning.  Pre- 
cious emblem  of  that  rest  which  God  has  provided  for  his 
people.  Praise  ye  the  Lord.  I  opened  Sabbath  School  at 
Fayette  Street  Church  with  prayer  and  exhortation.  Preach- 
ed at  Whatcoat  with  some  liberty.  Assisted  Bro.  Brooks  in 
the  administration  of  the  Sacrament,  then  preached  at  Mont- 
gomery Street  Hall  to  a  small  congregation.  Baptised  a 
child  and  gave  an  exhortation,  or  explanation  of  the  ordinan- 
ces. Preached  at  night  to  a  large  congregation  in  William 
Street  Church  with  some  liberty,  but  not  much  effect.  There 
was  however,  an  altar  nearly  filled  with  mourners.  Walked 
home  and  retired  to  bed  feeling  no  more  fatigue,  than  if  I 
had  been  setting  in  an  arm-chair  all  day.  Oh,  to  grace  how 
great  a  debtor,  daily,  hourly  and  momentarily  I  am  constrain- 
ed to  be 

Monday,  2Qth. — Have  applied  this  day  to  visiting.  In  one 
poor  family,  the  husband  has  been  sick  nearly  a  year.  The 
eldest  son  came  home  a  few  weeks  since,  quite  sick.  They 


JOHN  HERSEY.  175 

are  now  in  great  distress.  The  father  is  a  Catholic,  but  not 
prejudiced;  was  glad  to  hear  a  prayer;  has  two  Bibles. 
They  are  connected  with  some  of  the  most  respectable  mem- 
bers of  our  church,  but,  alas  how  slow  to  extend  the  hand  of 
mercy  in  time  of  need.  Another  interesting,  but  very  poor 
family  I  visited;  they  are  acquainted  with  some  of  the  most 
respectable  people  in  Essex  County,  Va,.  They  have  sold  al- 
most every  article  out  of  their  house,  rather  than  let  th(^r 
wants  be  known.  Sickness  h;is  brought  them  down.  They 
have  five  children,  who  are  very,  very  bare  of  clothes;  un- 
able to  attend  school,  or  church.  They  must  be  cared  for. 
Preached  at  night  for  Bro.  Brooks,  in  the  Bethel  with  some 
liberty  and  effect. 

Tuesday,  21th — Have  collected  some  money  this  morning 
for  a  few  cases  of  destitution,  which  have  been  relieved.  My 
old  disease  has  returned  again,  viz  :  Anxiety,  mental  intempe- 
rance, hurry  and  bustle,  when  all  should  be  calm  tranquility ; 
and  whilst  a  holy  zeal  should  cover  my  soul,  as  with  a  gar- 
ment. Attended  preaching  at  Columbia  Street  Church — the 
work  still  goes  on  there. 

Wednesday.  2,8th — I  borrowed  a  horse,  and  rode  out  four- 
teen miles  to  see  Bro.  ,  who  has  been  very  sick,  but  he 

is  now  recovering.  The  horse  was  rough,  and  riding  four- 
teen miles  without  alighting,  benumbed  my  poor  limbs  very 
much,  but  in  a  few  minutes  all  was  right  again. 

Thin-wily,  29f/i — Had  a  more  comfortable  season  in  my 
morning  devotions  than  usual ;  rode  back  to  Baltimore,  and 
felt  very  little  fatigue — visited  a  few  families — one  deeply 
afflicted — two  children  very  low— the  husband  has  been  afflic- 
ted for  nearly  two  years.  Surely,  some  appear  to  have  a  lar- 
ger portion  of  sorrow  than  others ;  'yet,  the  Judge  of  all  the 
earth  will  do  right.  Preached  at  Columbia  Street  Church — 
the  revival  still  continues. 

Friday,  30th— Oh,  ho*w  hard  to  shake  off  old  habits.  My 
fasting  is  so  formal,  it  loses  all  its  efficacy;  shall  I  therefore, 
give  it  up — not  so.  Lord,  in  mercy,  spiritualize  my  devotion. 
Visited  a  few  sick  and  poor;  the  poor  are  more  anxious  to 
have  their  temporal  wants  relieved,  than  to  have  their  spirit- 
ual maladies  healed.  Attended  the  preachers'  meeting;  Bro. 
Register  read  a  very  good  essay  on  the  subject  of  Sand  f Jim - 
ion.  The  advocates  of  the  old-side  could  not  argue,  bul 


176  SKETCH  OF 

plead  only  for  the  old  land-marks,  and  cried,  WESLEY  !  WES- 
LKY  !  whilst  the  other  side  proved  their  views  fully,  from  Mr. 
Wesley's  own  words.  Their  views  must  and  will  obtain,  be- 
cause they  are  in  accordance  with  reason,  and  scripture  and 
righteousness.  Preached  at  William  Street  Church  to  a  good 
congregation,  who  were  solemn  and  affected  ;  yet,  were  there 
no  mourners. 

«  Saturday,  October  1st — Enjoyed  a  softening  and  comforting 
influence  in  my  hour  of  prayer  this  morning.  One  smile 
from  Jesus  is  worth  more  than  all  worlds  could  be  to  my  poor 
helpless  soul.  This  has  been  a  wet  day,  I  have  however,  vis- 
ited and  relieved  several  poor  afflicted  families. 

Sabbath,  2nd — Have  spent  the  morning  in  reading,  medi- 
tation and  prayer.  Heard  Dr.  Roberts  preach  at  Strawbridge, 
receiving  and  assisting  in  the  administration  of  the  Holy  Sa- 
crament. Preached  at  Eutaw,  to  a  small  congregation,  at 
3  o'clock.  I  had  some  liberty,  and  all  was  not  spoken  in 
vain.  Preached  again  at  Whatcoat,  to  a  good  congregation, 
with  liberty  and  effect.  One  came  to  the  altar.  Returned 
home.  If  I  had  more  pure  and  undefiled  religion,  I  should 
be  perfectly  contented  and  happy. 

Monday,  3d — In  visiting,  I  met  an  old  acquaintance  with 
little  twins  in  her  arms.  She  was  very  poor,  but  cheerful, 
with  those  twins,  and  two  other  children.  She  sews  and  has 
scuffled  through  the  summer,  but  said  she  would  need  help 
in  winter.  She  has  no  stove.  She  said  "all  is  peace  now, 
though  the  children  cry,  yet  I  have  peace."  Meaning  I  have 
no  drunken  husband  to  coine  home  and  abuse  me.  Another 
squalidly  poor  Irish  family  was  recommended  to  me  by  a  broth- 
er, though  he  had  given  them  nothing.  All  their  furniture 
was  one  small  dirty  stool,  their  bed,  a  pillow  and  quilt.  An 
enemy  hath  done  this.  Rum  has  been  here. 

Tuesday,  4th  Though  my  rest  was  disturbed  by  unpleasant 
•dreams,  yet  was  I  permitted  to  get  a  little  nigher  the  foun- 
tain of  all  good  in  my  devotions,  this  morning.  One  precious 
smile  from  Jesus  is  far  more  desirable  than  all  earth  and 
heaven  besides.  I  have  walked  nearly  all  day,  visiting  some 
poor  families.  Preached  at  the  Widows'  Home,  and  visited 
the  Orphan's  Asylum.  Exhorted  and  prayed  in  one  room, 
and  visited  their  sick  and  prayed  in  two  other  rooms  there. 

Preached  at  William  Street   Church  at  night.     A  good 


JOHN  HERSEY  17T 

congregation,  and  a  good  time.  Solemn  feeling,  and  a  num- 
ber of  mourners.  Returned  home  quite  refreshed. 

Wednesday,  5th — Rode  out  with  Bro.  Richard  Brown  twel- 
ve miles,  to  see  Bro  in  regard  to  a  lot  in  Biddle  Alley, 

to  erect  a  school  house  upon  for  colored  children.  He  was 
three  or  four  miles  farther  off  than  we  expected.  Broi. 
Brown  was  compelled  to  return  to  Baltimore,  and  had  no- 
time  to  go  with  me,  so  I  walked  to  William  Fite's,  but  Bro. 
_  had  rode  out,  and  I  was  compelled  to  stay  all  night.. 

I  could  not  however,  succeed  in  getting  the  lot.  Poor,  dear 
old  man,  though  rich — rich,  and  eighty  nine  years  old — said 
he  was  not  able  to  give  the  lot,  but  referred  me  to  his  Agent 
in  Baltimore,  and  promised  to  do  something.  Oh,  the  dan- 
gers of  riches !  Alas !  the  love  of  money  is  one  of  Satan's 
strongholds  in  the  heart,  and  perhaps  the  last  he  will  sur- 
render. 

Thursday,  Qfh. — -Praise  the  Lord  for  his  abundant  mercies. 
I  have  enjoyed  a  greater  nearness  to  God  this  morning 
than  for  a  long,  long  season.  The  favor  of  God  is  more,. 
— far  more  than  life  in  its  most  elevated  enjoyment  ;  indeed, 
all  in  heaven  and  on  earth  would  be  a  perfect  blank,  without 
the  smiles  of  Jesus.  There  being  no  convenient  way  to  the 
cars  or  omnibus,  I  concluded  to  walk  to  the  city,  so  that  I 
had  a  very  pleasant  walk  of  fifteen  miles,  more  or  less,  and 
reached  home  about  one  o'clock,  feeling  very  little  fatigued. 
Visited  a  few  friends,  and  closed  the  day  in  peace. 

Friday,  7th. — This  has  been  rather  a  barren  day  with  my 
poor  soul.  Visited  a  few  friends  and  fasted,  but  in  a  very 
formal  way.  Oh  when  shall  I  escape  from  this  enemy's  lead- 
en grasp — formality  !  Preached  at  Emory  to  a  very  small 
congregation,  with  considerable  liberty. 

Sturdily,  Sth. — Slept  soundly,  but  did  not  awake  in  a 
spiritual  frame  of  mind.  Visited  some  families.  Paid  my 
weekly  baker's  and  grocer's  bill.  Was  pressingly  requested 
to  assist  Bro.  Hearn,  at  Warren  factory,  with  his  meeting  to- 
morrow. Having  no  positive  appointment  of  my  own,  I 
went  with  him,  but  found  a  very  unpleasant  state  of  feeling 
between  him  and  his  colleague,  which  made  my  visit  unpleas- 
ant. Bro.  Collins  preached  at  night;  several  mourners. 

Sabbath,  9/A. — Passed  a  most  unpleasant  night,  had  to  sleep 


178  SKETCH  OF 

on  feathers,  which  caused  a  restless,  sleepless  state  of  feeling. 

Bro.  H held  a  lovefeast  and  received  nineteen  members 

on  probation.  I  preached  at  eleven,  with  great  liberty  and 
effect.  Preached  again  at  three,  not  so  much  liberty.  Bro. 
Collins  preached  at  night.  A  number  of  mourners  came  for- 
ward. I  dined  and  stayed  all  night  with  a  very  kind  intel- 
ligent Adventist. 

Monday,  10/A — Arose  early,  and  spent  an  hour  and  a  half 
comfortably  and  happily  in  reading  the  good  word,  and  in 
prayer.  Walked  to  Cockeysville,  three  miles,  and  took  the 
cars  some  minutes  after  seven,  and  reached  Baltimore  a  few 
minutes  after  eight.  In  a  few  hours  I  received  subscriptions 
amounting  to  nearly  five  hundred  dollars,  to  build  a  Sunday 
School  house  for  the  colored  people,  in  Biddle  Alley. 

Tuesday,  \\tli — Month  begins  After  visiting  a  few  fami- 
lies, I  rode  out  with  Bro.  Hilt  to  Eandallsville,  and  preached 
to  a  crowded  house,  in  the  new  free  church,  built  by  a  female 
of  the  Univcrsalist  persuasion.  I  had  great  liberty  and  used 
plain  words,  showing  clearly  the  ftillacy  of  that  church. 

Wednesday,  12th. — Enjoyed  a  comfortable  season  in  pray- 
er this  morning,  though  it  was  cold  and  I  had  no  fire.  Bro. 
Hilt  sent  me  to  the  turnpike  ;  I  walked  six  miles  and  rode 
only  two  in  the  omnibus.  Found  some  of  my  friends  here 
sick  and  destitute  of  the  necesaries  of  life  Oh,  how  gloomy 
th'e  prospect  for  the  poor  !  The  winter  before  them  and  no 
provision:  a  poor  cripple,  with  four  very  interesting  children 
— no  wood,  no  food — nothing  but  want ;  a.decent  man — chil- 
dren respectable, — but  gloomy.  Preached  at  William  Street 
Church  with  physical  strength,  but  no  liberty.  Two  mour. 
ners. 

Thursday,  13th. — I  enjoyed  a  most  comfortable  night's 
rest,  a  desirable  blessing.  My  hour  of  devotion  appeared 
very,  very  short.  Spent  some  time  in  procuring  funds  to 
build  the  school  building  for  the  colored  children  ;  was  not 
very  successful.  Made  some  very  interesting  visits  ;  had  no 
appointments  to  preach — visited  the  Widow's  Home.  Heard 
of  Bro.  Brison's  death — solemn  thought— suddenly  called  a- 
way  ;  his  death  might  have  been  more  triumphant.  It  is  a 
warning  to  me  ;  oh,  may  I  profit  by  it. 

Friday,  14th. — Have  been  visiting  very  busily.  Many  of 
the  poor  suffer  much  ;  money  is  scarce,  and  provisions  and 


JOHN  HERSEY.  179 

wood  high — raining.  Yet  the  Lord  will  provide  !  Attended 
Bro.  Brison's  funeral  at  2  o'clock.  Called  to  see  a  sister,  who 
had  a  parcel  of  children  around  her,  whilst  she  was  sinking 
into  the  grave,  yet  was  she  resigned  and  joyful. 

Saturday,  15/A — Visited  a  few  afflicted  and  destitute  fami- 
lies. Intended  to  pay  uiy  bills,  but  forgot  one.  Alas,  will 
there  not  be  many  things  brought  up  in  the  judgment  day 
which  I  had  forgotten  f  Lord,  help  me  to  watch  and  pray. 

At  eleven  o'clock  I  took  the  cars  for  Philadelphia,  and  was 
numbered  among  the  transgressors.  Took  the  poor  man's 
car,  among  the  darkies  and  poor  whites,  but  it  did  not  soil 
my  soul,  whilst  I  saved  one  dollar  for  the  poor.  Reached 
Philadelphia  in  safety  about  four  o'clock,  and  was  warmly 
received  by  my  old  friend,  Andrew  Manship. 

Sabliath,  IGtk — Preached  this  morning  to  a  congregation 
of  twelve  hundred  persons,  in  a  house  which  was  built  out 
aud  out  in  ten  days.  We  had  a  precious  time,  but,  alas,  the 
bane  of  vital  godliness — money,  spoiled  all,  and  rooted  up  the 
seed  sown.  Preached  ag;iin  at  three  o'clock.  The  house 
and  aisles  were  crowded  full  of  human  beings.  I  gave  them 
strong  meat,  and  it  was  well  received,  but  the  money  scraping 
killed  the  w'-iole.  At  night  Bro.  Manship  preached.  Only 
two  came  forward,  both  of  whom  professed  conversion.  I 
find  my  voice  much  affected.  Have  taken  cold.  I  see  not 
how  I  am  to  labor  again  here,  efficiently,  but  the  Lord's  will 
be  done. 

Mmday,  llth — Called  to  see  a  number  of  my  friends,  and 
stopped  a  few  minutes  at  the  preachers'  meeting.  They  were 
discussing  things  of  no  interest  to  their  own  souls,  nor  calcu- 
lated to  promote  the  salvation  of  the  people.  Oh,  may  God 
sound  an  alarm  in  Zion,  and  awake  the  watchmen  to  a  sense 
of  their  danger  and  their  duty.  Preached  at  the  new  Ta- 
bernacle to  a  large  congregation  with  liberty,  and  more 
ph  VMC-il  power  than  I  could  have  anticipated  from  my  previous 
feelings.  There  were  two  who  professed  to  experience  a 
change  of  heart. 

Tuesday.  ISth — Finished  this  morning,  reading  through 
the  New  Testament,  whi'st  on  my  knees,  tiiisycar,  the  fourth 
timr>.  My  soul  is  much  affected  at  the  appro-iching  doom  of 
the  Church  and  the  Christian  world  as  specified  in  the  Apoc- 
alypse; but,  alas,  the  watchmen  are  all  asleep,  and  that  awful 


180  SKETCH  OF 

day — the  day  of  God's  wrath,  will  come  upon  us  all.  Have 
visited  a  number  of  friends,  who  are  very  kind,  but  alas,  I 
fear  they  respect  the  servant  more  than  the  Master.  Have 
.been  pressed  to  preach  in  different  places,  but  must  remain 
with  the  poor,-  the  short  time  I  can  stay  here.  Preached  at 
night  to  a  large  congregation  with  liberty.  There  were  quite 
a  number  of  mourners,  and  some  converts. 

Wednesday,  19/7i — It  was  ray  intention  to  close  my  labors 
here  this  day.  But  the  brethren  plead  so  hard,  and  offered 
to  make  a  collection  for  our  mission  in  Baltimore,  if  I  would 
stay  one  day  longer,  which  I  reluctantly  consented.  Bro.  M. 
and  myself  have  spent  the  day  in  visiting.  Preached  to  a 
large  congregation  at  night  but  had  not  much  liberty.  There 
were  a  number  of  mourners,  and  several  converts. 

Thursday  2Qth — Made  a  few  visits  with  Bro.  Manship. 
Preached  at  night  with  much  liberty  and  effect  to  more  than 
a  thousand  people,  yet  was  the  collection  for  the  poor  very 
small,  only  $9,18.  Bro.  M —  said  if  I  had  allowed  him  to 
make  it  for  himself,  it  would  have  been  large,  but  they  have 
poor  themselves  in  abundance,  and  do  not  feel  it  to  be  their 
duty  to  give  to  those  of  other  cities. 

Friday  21sl — Last  night  after  preaching,  I  rode  to  the 
depot,  took  the  cars  and  reached  Baltimore  about  four  o'clock, 
having  slept  very  little.  Although  it  has  been  wet,  I  have 
visited  nearly  all  day,  and  have  felt  no  drowsiness.  Visited 
the  Widow's  Home,  and  comforted  and  prayed  with  the  afflic- 
ted. Attended  class,  and  closed  the  day  in  peace. 

Saturday  22nd — I  have  met  with  a  number  of  needy  peo- 
ple to-day.  Some  deeply  afflicted.  They  anticipate  a  hard 
winter.  Almost  every  article  is  very  dear.  I  have  given 
sparingly  out  of  my  own  scanty  means.  Have  paid  all  my 
bakers  and  grocers  bills,  and  in  regard  to  this  worU,  I  stand 
where  every  individual  should  stand,  free  from  debt. 

Sabbath,  23J — Opened  the  Sabbath-school  at  Strawbridge. 
Preached  at  Wolfs  church  for  our  Presbyterian  brethren  at 
eleven  o'clock,  to  a  good  congregation,  with  much  liberty. 
I  fear,  however  that  the  meat  was  too  strong  for  my  hearers. 
Heard  Bro.  Reese  preach  at  3  o'clock  at  Fayette  St.  Church, 
anJ  preached  there  myself  at  night,  to  a  good  congregation, 
but  had  no  liberty — all  was  dark  and  gloomy.  Lord  Jesus, 
shine,  oh  shine  away  those  clouds,  and  let  me  behold  Thy  glory. 


JOHN  HERSEY.  181 

Monday,  2ith — This  has  been  a  stormy  day — snow  and  rain. 
I  only  visited  one  afflicted  family  in  the  morning,  and  a  few 
in  the  evening.  Must  I  say,  a  day  lost — nearly  so.  Who 
can  tell  the  value  of  a  day  ? 

Tuesday,  25f/i — Have  visited  some  deeply  afflicted  fami- 
lies ;  some  of  them  were  professors — very  few  were  prepared 
to  die.  Visited  and  preached  at  the  Widows'  Home — dead 
place;  not  much  religion  here.  Preached  to  a  few  at  the 
Mission  Chapel  out  Light  street,  and  walked  home  quite  re- 
freshed ;  feeling  no  kind  of  fatigue. 

Wednesday,  2Qih — Have  been  very  busy  to-day,  doing  noth- 
ing but  visiting  a  few  sick  folks;  administered  the  Sacrament 
to  Bro.  S.  Henderson.  Preached  to  a  small  congregation  at 
William  St.  Church.  Walked  home  and  felt  much  refreshed. 

Thursday,  11th — This  has  been  a  damp  and  unpleasant  day. 
I  have  taken  cold  ;  yet,  I  have  visited  all  day.  If  my  patients 
were  more  spiritual,  it  would  be  more  encouraging.  Atten- 
ded the  funeral  of  a  poor  unfortunate  man  of  dissipated  habits. 
He  had  but  a  short  notice,  and  was  not  in  his  right  mind 
from  the  first  of  his  illness.  The  sober  thought,  of  an  immor- 
tal soul  lost  forever,  should  arouse  all  my  dormant  powers  to- 
save  others  from  that  awful  doom.  But  alas!  how  indifferent 
is  my  poor  soul,  and  how  insensible.  Have  mercy  on  me,  oh, 
my  God. 

Friday,  28th — My  soul  has  been  more  comfortable  to-day 
than  usual.  Have  visited  many  poor  distressed  families,  and 
given  them  a  little  food  for  the  soul  as  well  as  the  body.  One 
poor  unbeliever  has  gone  to  eternity.  It  is  possible  that  I 
was  too  negligent  with  him.  Should  it  be  that  his  soul  is  lost 
through  my  carelessness,  how  awful  the  thought.  Attended 
class.  Bro.  R — ,  who  led,  thought  I  was  too  rigid  with  my- 
self and  others,  but  a  still  greater  degree  of  scrutiny  in  world- 
ly matters  would  be  called  prudence. 

Sallath.  30th — The  weather  has  been  very  uncomfortable 
to-day.  I  have  done  very  little  for  God,  or  the  people. 

Preached  at  11  o'clock,  at  the  Seamen's  Bethel,  and  atten- 
ded there  in  the  afternoon,  a  Sacramental  meeting,  but  took 
no  part  in  their  experience  meeting,  because  I  do  not  under- 
stand them.  Heard  Bro.  Register  preach  at  Spring  Garden 
Chapel.  Returned  home  and  closed  the  day.  Oh  Lord,  en- 
ter not  into  judgment  with  thy  servant. 


182  SKETCH  OF 

Monday,  21s£ — I  have  nearly  finished  my  collection  for  the 
School  House  for  colored  children.  Though  it  has  not  given 
me  much  trouble,  yet,  does  it  detract  from  the  dignity  and 
glory  of  the  gospel,  to  beg  so  much  money  ;  it  gives  riches 
and  rich  people  an  importance  unknown  to  the  gospel. 

Thursday,  Nov. 1st — My  soul  cannot  shake  off  all  the  clogs 
of  unbelief  and  shame  Oh,  when  shall  I  the  victory  gain? 
Have  visited  a  number  of  distressed  and  afflicted  cases  to-day. 
How  thick,  dark  and  cold  the  gloom  that  hangs  over  the  des- 
tiny of  the  poor  in  the  world,  but  there  is  a  better  day  ap- 
proaching. Lord  hasten  it.  Have  baptized  three  households 
to-day. 

Wednesday,  2nd — This  day  I  have  done  what  I  never  did 
before,  I  voted  at  a  public,  popular  election,  to  put  down 
drunkenness  in  our  State,  and  have  I  think,  done  so  in  the 
fear  of  God.  Have  visited  and  partially  relieved  quite  a  num- 
ber of  poor  suffering  mortals.  How  little  do  the  rich  know 
or  care  for  the  sufferings  of  the  poor,  This  account  will  have 
to  be  settled  at  another  tribunal,  where  at  last  Christ's  word 
will  be  fully  realized.  Woe  unto  you  that  are  rich,  for  ye, 
have  received  your  reward. 

Friday,  ±th — I  have  been  striving  to  live  for  a  better 
world.  Praise  the  Lord  for  the  prospect.  Have  furnished 
two  poor  families  with  stoves,  aided  by  Bro.  Thomas'  advice 
and  money.  It  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  receive.  Preach- 
ed at  Wesley  Chapel  with  much  liberty  and  comfort  to  my 
own  soul,  and  with  some  effect. 

Saturday,  oth — I  have  felt  quite  discouraged  this  day.  The 
poor  and  distressed  seem  to  increase,  nor  can  they  be  relieved 
except  in  a  very  small  degree.  Some  are  maimed,  some  sick 
some  blind,  and  all  in  want  of  both  food  and  raiment.  It  is 
not  pleasant  to  visit  the  poor  with  out  means  to  relieve  in  part 
their  pressing  wants. 

Sabbath,  6th — Opened  the  Wesley  Chapel  Sabbath  School 
•with  a  long  lecture.  Preached  at  William  Street  Church, 
with  much  liberty.  Quite  a  solemn  season.  Visited  the 
•wharves  and  vessels,  also  the  tippling  shops  which  were  open, 
distributing  tracts,  and  lecturing  the  idle  sinners.  I  think 
the  election  has  already  intimidated  the  licentious  rum  seller. 

Praise  the  Lord  for  this  also.  Walked  over  to  Bro.  Reed's 
in  Old  Town,  to  preach  for  him,  but  he  had  gone  to  the 


JOHN  HERSEY.  183 

country.     Returned  and  heard  Bro.  Farrow  preach  at  Straw- 
bridge,  and  thus  ended  another  Sabbath. 

Monday,  7th. — My  attention  has  been  divided  among  the 
sick  and  poor  in  different  parts  ;  a  fact  which  entangles  my 
mind  and  weakens  my  usefulness.  I  had  made  an  engage- 
ment to  meet  a  poor  woman  at  the  Asylum,  to  get  her  chil- 
dren a  home  and  forgot  it ;  Lord,  in  boundless  mercy  again 
forgiva  me. 

Tuesday,  Sth. — Last  night  I  had  a  most  alarming  and  ad- 
monitory dream,  and  it  should  arouse  me.  Have  walked 
nearly  all  day.  Visited  and  relieved  some  afflicted,  worthy 
widows.  Attended  a  prayer  meeting,  at  Exeter  Street  Church, 
with  Bro.  Reed.  Cold,  cold.  Walked  home  and  feltqu  ite 
refreshed. 

Wednesday,  Qth. — This  has  been  a  very  inclement  day. 
Very  rainy  ;  but  I  felt  so  much  mortified  about  the  poor 
woman,  whose  case  I  forget  to  attend  toat  the  Asylum  on 
Monday  that  I  have  to-day  procured  annual  subscribers  to 
the  amount  of  nearly  sixty  dollars,  which  will  entitle  the 
children  to  a  place  in  that  institution.  Thank  the  Lord  and 
thank  my  kind  friends  for  their  liberality.  Bro.  Perry  took 
two,  and  Bro.  E.  C.  Thomas  took  two  for  himself,  and  two 
for  sister  Thomas,  and  Bro.  Drakely  took  six  ;  may  they  have 
a  letter  of  admission  into  everlasting  habitations,  for  Christ's 
sake.  Preached  at  William  Street  Church  to  a  small  but 
deeply  interested  congregation. 

Thursday,  IQth. — Visited  a  few  families  and  attended  the 
collection  for  the  children  and  the  colored  school.  Handling 
money,  to  the  Christian,  is  as  dangerous  as  edged  tools  to 
children.  I  am  afraid  of  it.  Yet  it  smiles  and  allures  and 
chases  fear  away.  Attended  a  social  meeting  at  Bro.  Perry's. 
There  were  but  few  present,  yet  enough  to  claim  the  promise. 

Friday,  llth — I  have  walked  more  this  day  than  any  before 
since  I  have  been  in  Baltimore.  A  drunken  woman  asked  me 
for  money,  which  I  refused.  How  she  did  pour  out  her  ana- 
themas upon  the  old  hypocritical  Quakers.  What  a  terrible 
sight,  a  fallen,  depraved  drunken  woman  presents  to  the  eye. 

We  had  a  better  class  than  usual,  I  had  liberty  and  com- 
fort in  leading  it. 

Saturday,  12th — This  is  my  pay  day.     I  have  visited  some 


184  SKETCH  OF 

who  have  to  wade  through  the  deep  cold  waters  of  poverty 
and  sorrow.  Called  to  see  what  we  poor  mortals  call  a  res- 
pectable family.  The  mother  said  I  called  to  see  her  mother 
when  she  herself  was  a  child,  and  she  had  never  forgotten  the 
circumstance  ;  it  made  a  lasting  impression  upon  her  mind, 
and  she  had  ever  since  been  desirous  of  seeing  me.  I  gave 
her  and  the  family  a  plain  lesson  which  they  will  not  forget. 
At  4  o'clock  left  in  the  cars  for  Bro.  Samuel  Kramer's.  Ar- 
rived about  dark. 

Sunday,  IWi — A  very  wet,  inclement  day.  No  congegra- 
tion  in  the  morning.  A  very  small  one  at  three,  whom  I  preach- 
ed to  in  Bro.  Kramer's  own  chapel,  built  on  his  own  farm  by 
himself.  Eode  three  miles  to  Stabler's  meeting  house,  and  at 
night  preached  to  a  large  congregation,  with  much  liberty. 
Two  professed  to  embrace  religion. 

Monday,  l&h — Returned  to  Baltimore  in  the  cars.  Got 
home  after  nine.  Visited  some  distressed  families,  and  bap- 
tised several  children.  I  have  received  for  benevolent  purpo- 
ses in  the  last  two  months  about  one  hundred  and  seventy  dol- 
lars, and  have  paid  out  about  two  hundred.  The  times  wear 
a  dark  aspect  in  view  of  the  high  prices  of  provisions,  and 
the  meagre  pay  given  for  common  sewing. 

Tuefday,  15th — There  is  so  much  sameness  in  my  opera- 
tions, that  it  is  well  calculated  to  induce  formality  in-wbrship 
which  must  ever  be  offensive  to  God. 

Wednesday,  IGth. — Have  been  engaged  in  visiting  the  sick 
and  closing  some  unsettled  accounts,  which  the  trustees  of 
the  Light  St.  Chapel  had  assumed,  but  neglected  to.  close. 
Neglect  in  business  leads  to  carelessness  in  religious  duties  ; 
and  carelessness  in  our  devotions,  leads  to  deception  and 
final  ruin.  Rode  in  the  evening  to  Parkton  and  preached  at 
Stabler's  Meeting  House,  to  a  small  congregation ;  the  rain 
prevented  the  people  from  coming  out. 

Thursday,  ITth. — Reached  Baltimore  about  nine  o'clock. 
Have  visited  some  deeply  distressed  families.  Have  done 
very  little,  yet  I  have  been  going  and  busy  all  day.  Heard 
Bro.  Gear  preach  at  night.  A  few  mourners  present  at 
Franklin  Street  Church. 

Friday,  18th. — Oh  for  a  sensibility  of  sin,  a  pain  to  feel  it 
near  After  visiting  among  the  poor  through  the  day,  I  at- 
tended class  at  night  and  saw  and  felt  more  than  ever  my  de- 


JOHN  HERSEY.  185 

linquencies.     So  I  think  did  the  rest  of  the  class.     It  was  a 
profitable  tirue. 

Saturday,  19/A. — Have  visited  several  patients  who  are  just 
on  the  confines  of  eternity.  Alas,  the  responsibility !  If  I 
deal  very  plainly,  it  will  grieve  the  living  and  the  dying,  and 
if  I  do  not,  their  blood  will  be  found  upon  my  garments. 
Awful  thought.  Lord  in  mercy  grant  me  grace  and  wisdom, 
that  I  may  escape  Thy  just  indignation  and  save  others  from 
the  damnation  of  hell.  I  gave  some  loafers  at  the  door  of  a 
rum  shop,  some  tracts  and  some  plain  talk.  They  received 
both  plainly. 

SMath,  20</i. — Walked  the  streets  and  wharves  and  dis- 
tributed tracts.  One  old  man  who  keeps  his  store  open  on 
Sundays,  became  very  angry,  called  me  very  ugly  names  and 
denounced  the  hypocritical  Methodists  to  perdition,  without 
mercy,  or  reservation.  On  the  wharf,  a  hearty,  strong  man, 
had  his  wares  spread  out  largely  ;  he  too  fought  for  his  mas- 
ter, the  devil,  valiantly  ;  a  decent  looking  man  joined  him, 
and  some  one  joined  with  me.  A  large  crowd  collected,  and 
I  spoke  many  things  to  them  in  an  exhortation  and  distribut- 
ed a  number  of  tracts.  Preached  at  the  Seamen's  Bethel. 
Preached  again  at  three  o'clock,  at  the  Mission  Chapel,  on 
Light  Street  to  a  large  congregation,  with  much  comfort  to 
my  own  soul.  Preached  to  a  large,  attentive  congrega- 
tion, at  Columbia  Street  Church,  with  liberty,  and  I  think 
good  effect.  It  was  a  profitable  season.  I  was  very  close, 
t)ut  it  was  well  received. 

Monday,  21st. — Alas,  what  has  sin  done  for  our  world?  I 
have  visited  some  cases  of  great  suffering.  A  poor  woman 
with  a  cancer  in  her  breast  and  arm.  She  is  a  deep  penitent, 
but  cannot  exercise  saving  faith  in  the  atoning  merits  of 
Christ.  I  heard  a  very  strange  rumor  in  regard  to  myself. 
For  a  moment  it  gave  me  some  uneasiness,  but  I  was  enabled 
in  a  few  hours  to  feel  no  more  than  what  it  really  was, — an 
empty  puff  of  wind. 

Tuesday,  22nd. — A  wet,  unhealthy  day,  yet  I  have  walked 
and  visited  all  day,  and  must  say  with  the  unsuccessful  disci- 
ple's "Master,  we  have  toiled  all  night  and  taken  nothing.'* 

Wednesday,  23rd. — Have  visited  some  of  my  most  afflict- 
ed patients.  The  poor  woman  deeply  afflicted  with  the  can- 
cer, seems  to  be  much  comforted  and  feels  an  humble  assur- 


186  SKETCH  OF 

ance,  that  God,  for  Christ's  sake,  has  pardoned  her  sins. 
Preached  at  three  o'clock  to  the  children  at  the  asylum  ;  about 
one  hundred  present  and  only  one  moved  from  the  seat,  and 
one  slept.  A  more  attentive  and  respectful  congregation,  I 
have  perhaps,  never  preached  to.  I  feel  honored  and  hum- 
bled and  comforted  in  their  presence.  Collected  from  a  few 
friends,,  twenty-five  dollars  to  buy  some  shoes  for  the  poor 
families.  The  Lord  bless  those  kind  friends. 

Thursday,  24/A. — I  rejoice  that  our  State  authorities  hon- 
ored Grod,  by  appointing  a  day  of  thanksgiving.  Yet,  do  I 
believe,  there  is  more  sin  committed  on  this  day,  than  there 
would  be  in  a  week  of  working  days.  Surely  labor  is  a 
blessing,  for  which  we  should  be  far  more  thankful  than  we 
are.  Heard  Dr.  Roberts  preach  to  a  small  congregation  at 
William  Street,  and  took  up  a  small,  very  small  collection  for 
the  poor.  Attended  the  Tract  meeting  in  St.  John's  Church 
at  night.  Drs.  Johns,  Heiner,  Plummer  and  Hamner  spoke. 
A  good  congregation,  but  the  collection  dragged  exceeding- 
ly. They  are  not  as  good  beggars  as  the  Methodists. 

Friday,  2oth — I  have  felt  less  inconvenience  from  fasting 
to-day  than  usual.  After  walking  all  day,  having  taken  no- 
thing for  twenty-four  hours,  I  feel  no  weakness,  no  more  need 
of  food,  than  if  I  had  taken  my  regular  meals.  A  friend  on 
the  wharf,  Levin  Jones,  gave  me  a  cord  of  wood,  for  which  I 
thank  the  Lord  for  this,  also.  Led  the  class  for  Bro.  D — . 
Few  out.  It  was  a  cold,  unprofitable  season. 

Saturday,  2Qth — I  have  visited  nearly  all  of  my  sick  patients 
this  morning.  Some  of  them  are  very  great  sufferers.  Oh, 
that  I  could  feel  as  much  for  them  as  I  should.  I  procured 
for  the  sister  with  the  cancer,  a  bed  comfort,  and  although 
she  was  too  diffident  to  say  that  she  needed  it  yet  she  was  very 
grateful  for  it,  which  gave  me  a  double  reward.  At  half 
past  three,  left  in  the  cars  with  Bro.  Kramer,  and  rode  up  to 
his  farm. 

Sabbath,  27th — Last  night  it  was  cold,  and  I  could  not  sleep; 
my  mind  being  deeply  affected  in  reflecting  on  those  friends 
suffering  with  most  painful  cancers,  and  one  of  them  without 
bed-clothes  to  keep  her  warm.  Preached^to  a'small  congre- 
gration  at  half  past  ten  o'clock,  with  some  liberty,  and  to  a 
large  one  at  three;  when  I  was  very  plain  and  close.  The 
seed  will  not  all  be  lost. 


JOHN  HEESEY.  187 

Monday,  28/A — Reached  home  at  nine.  Visited  and  com- 
forted, warmed  and  clothed  some  poor  hungry,  striving  souls. 
Oh,  that  I  could  feel  more  deeply  for  the  afflictions  of  my 
fellow  mortals,  whom  I  must  love  as  myself,  if  they  are  moral, 
correct  people,  or  never  see  their  Father  in  Heaven,  in  peace. 
Oh  for  a  pure  heart,  and  a  self-denying  spirit.  Attended 
Love  Feast.  I  think  it  was  a  dull  season,  yet  some  thought 
otherwise,  and  praised  it.  So  will  the  merchant  praise  all, 
yes,  all  his  goods. 

Tuesday,  29 th. — I  was  again  admonished,  by  a  solemn  and 
an  alarming  dream  of  my  duty  and  of  my  danger,  and  yet, 
alas,  I  will  still  plod  along  in  the  old  tracks.  Lord  help  me 
from  this  moment  to  do  better,  and  God  alone  can  make  this 
heart  better.  Have  visited  and  relieved  a  few  poor  distressed 
mortals,  and  collected  some  money  for  the  African  school. 


CHRISTIAN  WARFARE. 

SERMON  BY  JOHN  HERSEY. 

"For  the  weapons  of  our  warfare  are  not  carnal,  but  mighty 
through  God,  to  the  pulling  down  of  strongholds.'' — 2  Cor.,  x,  4. 

We  find  ourselves  placed  in  a  world  of  conflict  and  danger, 
surrounded  by  a  mighty  host  of  enemies,  good  and  evil,  vir- 
tue and  vice,  are  irreconcilable  enemies.  If  we  secure  any 
earthly  good,  we  have  to  fight  for  it.  It  requires  labor  and 
care  and  diligence  to  gain  the  necessary  comforts  of  food  and 
raiment;  to  insure  success,  we  have  to  wage  war  with  ani- 
mate and  inanimate  nature  ;  after  we  have  toiled  to  prepare 
the  ground  and  have  deposited  the  seed  therein,  both  wild 
and  domestic  animals  will  array  themselves  in  hostility  against 
the  labor  of  our  hands ;  hence  we  have  to  close  the  ground, 
to  guard  against  their  incursions  ;  the  birds  of  the  air,  the 
crawling  reptiles  of  the  earth,  will  endeavor  to  destroy  the 
good  seed.  Thus  every  article  of  real  value,  which  grows 
out  of  the  earth,  is  surrounded  by  enemies,  while  the  weeds 
and  briars  grow  spontaneously  without  care  or  culture  !  Not 
only  has  the  earth  been  cursed  on  account  of  man's  sin,  but  the 


183  SKETCH  OF 

atmosphere  is  full  of  deadly  poison.  The  human  heart  in  a 
very  especial  manner,  is  exposed  to  the  assaults  of  deadly  foes. 
The  devil  goes  about,  like  a  roaring  lion,  seeking  whom  he 
may  devour  ;  he  also  assumes  the  form  of  a  serpent  and  trans- 
forms himself  into  the  appearance  of  an  angel  of  light,  the 
more  effectually  to  destroy  poor,  frail  mortals ;  and  further, 
to  increase  our  dangers  and  call  forth  our  energies  in  life's 
conflict ;  we  have  to  meet  and  conquor  enemies  in  our  own 
bosom,  our  degenerate  heart ;  our  passions  and  our  appetites, 
are  our  deadly  foes.  Indulge  children  in  all  their  desires 
and  they  will  be  invariably  and  inevitably  ruined  ;  men  are 
but  children  of  a  larger  growth  ;  thus  in  our  present  fallen 
condition,  we  must  fight,  or  fall,  conquer  or  be  ruined  forever. 
There  can  be  no  neutrals  in  this  war ;  therefore  in  the  im- 
provement of  our  present  subject,  we  will 

1st. — Advert  to  the  character  of  our  inveterate  enemy, 
(the  devil,)  and  expose  to  view  a  few  of  his  "strongholds." 

1.  His  character :  He  is  an  active,  restless  foe,  he  goeth 
about  like  a  roaring  lion,  a  malicious  enemy ;  hence  he  is 
called  Satan.  An  artful,  deceptious  foe  ;  his  strength  now 
lieth  in  his  cunning,  his  artifice,  his  deception.  Paul  says, 
we  are  not  ignorant  of  his  devices.  It  will,  therefore,  be 
necessary  that  we  have  not  only  the  wisdom  that  comethfrom 
above,  but  divine  power  also,  to  enable  us  to  meet  and  con- 
quer this  artful,  insidious  enemy. 

2d.  His  Strongholds — As  the  devil  has  been  foiled  and 
conquered  by  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  his  hope  of  success  now 
depends  not  only  on  his  devices,  but  he  erects  entrenchments 
and  fortifications  to  aid  him  in  his  work  of  destruction.  On 
the  present  occasion  we  will  only  notice  three  of  his  strong- 
holds ;  Infidelity,  Pride,  Love  of  the  world. 

First  stronghold — Infidelity — The  devil  can  now  gain  very 
little  by  an  avowal  of  open  infidelity.  Learned  and  pious 
men^  of  God,  by  writing  and  preaching,  have  well  nigh  demol- 
ished this  stronghold  of  Satan;  there  are  now  very  few  open 
and  avowed  infidels,  their  theory  will  not  bear  the  light.  This 
artful  seducer  however,  has  covertly  gathered  up  the  frag- 
ments of  this  favorite  fortification,  and  while  by  his  crafty 
devices,  he  denounces  infidelity,  and  even  his  open  friends  are 
unwilling  to  appear  entrenched  within  its  tottering  walls,  he 
changes  the  name,  and  enters  the  church,  where  he  carries  on 


JOHN  HERSEY.  189 

his  work  of  ruin  and  infidelity  under  cover  of  Christianity. 

Hence  upon  a  close  examination,  it  will  be  found  that  many 
professors  of  religion,  both  in  the  ministry  and  membership,, 
are  only  specious  infidels.  Alas,  what  a  multitude  of  pro- 
fessing Christians  are  living  at  ease  in  Zion;  are  slumbering 
in  a  lukewarm  state;  nor  do  they  believe  Christ's  solemn  dec- 
larations when  he  says  :  "He  will  spue  them  out  of  his  mouth r 
all  those  who  are  living  carelessly,  viz;  without  fasting  and 
diligent,  persevering  prayer,  that  they  may  be  purified  and 
made  holy  now,  not  to-morrow,  that  do  not  believe  that  sin. 
is  hateful  to  God,  and  must  exclude  us  from  Heavem  Again 
there  are  many  professors,  who  do  not  really  believe  in  the 
existence  of  the  attributes  of  God.  First,  his  omnipresence; 
"Do  not  I  fill  heaven  and  earth,"  saith  the  Lord  Almighty. 
But  Avho  really  believes  it?  No  man  that  says  or  does  any 
thing  which  he  would  not  say  or  do,  if  the  Lord  Jesus  were 
personally  present.  But,  who,  may  we  not  ask,  uniformly- 
observes  this  rule? 

2nd.  God's  Omniscience — Who  really  and  consistently  be- 
lieves in  the  existence  of  this  attribute  ?  No  man  wishes  to 
conceal  from  man,  his  actions,  thoughts,  motives  and  desires;, 
surely  if  he  is  ashamed  of  those  secret  things  before  men,  he 
should  feel  infinitely  more  ashamed  to  disclose  them  to  the 
view  of  a  pure  and  holy  God.  May  we  not  find  infidels  ?  viz. 
unbelievers,  in  the  bosom  of  the  church.  Again,  there  are 
many  who  would  feel  insulted,  were  you  to  call  them  infidels, 
or  unbelievers  and  yet  they  do  not  believe  God's  holy  word :. 
if  there  is  one  declaration  in  the  Holy  Bible,  which  I  do  not 
believe,  I  may  as  well  disbelieve  every  word  written  therein. 
The  word  of  God  says,  "This«night  thy  soul  shall  be  required 
of  thee,"  and  "without  holiness  no  man  can  see  the  Lord."  If 
I  am  not  therefore,  in  possession  of  that  pearl  of  great  price,  or 
striving  with  all  my  ransomed  powers  to  secure  it,  I  either 
do  not  believe  God's  word,  or  place  a  very  low  estimate  upon 
the  value  of  my  soul.  In  God's  word  it  is  written — "But 
the  day  of  the  Lord  will  come  as  a  thief  in  the  night ;  in  the 
which  the  heavens  will  pass  away  with  great  noise  and  the 
elements  shall  melt  with  fervent  heat,  the  earth  also  and  the 
works  that  are  therein,  shall  be  burned  up." — 2  PKTKR,  iiir 
10.  That  awful  day  will  come  as  a  thief  in  the  night,  in  an 
unexpected  hour.  Do  we  believe  this  solemn  declaration? 
All  of  us  who  are  living,  unprepared  to  die,  viz.;  in  an  un- 


190  SKETCH    OF 

holy  and  unsanctified  state,  without  making  every  exertion  in 
our  power  to  realize  a  jmre  heart,  do  not  believe  it ;  to  prove 
this  fact,  let  us  suppose  a  case — a  stranger  informs  us  that  an 
incendiary  will  burn  down  our  house  one  night  next  week,  he 
heard  the  plan  arranged  for  doing  this  dreadful  deed  ;  would 
we  during  that  week  retire  to  bed,  without  making  a  judi- 
cious preparation  to  guard  against  the  impending  calamity  ? 
We  feel  conscious  that  we  would  not ;  and  yet,  when  Al- 
mighty God  speaks  and  unequivocally  declares  that  He  may 
burn  up  the  world  this  night  and  under  those  solemn  circum- 
stances, we  retire  to  our  slumbering  bed  with  an  entire  indif- 
ference, conscious  that  we  are  not  prepared  to  meet  our  God. 
Now  if  we  regard  the  word  of  man,  more  than  the  word  of  God, 
can  we  meet  the  Judge  of  all  the  earth  with  joy  ?  We  believe 
our  neighbor  and  we  promptly  acted.  God  speaks  and  we 
disregard  His  word.  Are  we  not  therefore  virtually  unbelie- 
vers, infidels?  This  specie  of  infidelity  forms  a  favored  posi- 
tion, or  stronghold  for  the  devil. 

3d.  Pride — The  pride  of  the  heart  forms  a  most  pleasing 
lurking  place  for  Satan.  God  hates  a  proud  look,  and  '  'he  that 
exalteth  himself  shall  be  abased."  In  the  arms  of  our  infi- 
delity, Satan  feels  himself  secure,  for  God  has  said,  "he  that 
believeth  not  shall  be  damned."  The  devil  revels  and  takes 
peculiar  delight  in  the  heart  where  pride  is  countenanced. 

A  proud  beggar  would  be  truly  a  contemptible  character, 
the  devil  however  knows  that  we  are  beggars,  dependent  on 
God  for  every  drop  of  water,  and  every  crumb  of  bread.  A 
poor  culprit  condemned  to  be  executed  to-morrow,  and  infla- 
ted with  pride,  would  present  a  most  despicable  sight  in  the 
eyes  of  reflecting  men.  All  mankind  are  condemned  to  die, 
and  may  meet  their  solemn  doom  the  next  moment.  As  pride 
in  its  nature  is  unnatural,  unreasonable,  hateful  to  God,  and 
destructive  to  human  happiness,  it  behooves  us  to  examine 
our  hearts  with  great  care  and  candor,  lest  a  particle  of  this 
soul-degrading,  God-dishonoring  principle,  in  which  Satan  de- 
lights, should  be  found  to  exist  within.  A  desire  to  be  seen 
and  admired  of  men,  is  unequivocal  proof  of  the  existence  of 
this  evil  in  the  heart.  Can  anything  but  pride  influence  a 
dying  condemned  mortal  to  wear  fine  and  costly  apparel,  or 
build  elegant  and  expensive  houses,  and  furnish  them  with 
costly  furniture  only  to  be  seen  and  admired?  It  is  however 
frequently  asserted  that  we  may  be  as  proud  when  dressed  in 


JOHN  HERSEY.  191 

Osnaburgs  as  in  broadcloth.  While  the  possibility  of  this 
supposition  is  admitted,  the  subject  involved  in  the  case,  is  of 
too  much  importance  (even  the  loss  of  the  soul)  to  pass  over 
the  argument  carelessly.  We  must  appeal  to  higher  authority 
than  poor  erring  men ;  we  must  hear  what  Almighty  God  says  in 
regard  to  this  important  subject .  When  Ahab  laid  aside  his 
royal  robes  and  put  on  sack-cloth,  (a  coarse  hairy  garment) 
and  fasted,  the  Lord  beheld  it  and  said  to  Elijah,  "Seest  thou 
how  Ahab  humbleth  himself  before  Me,  I  will  not  bring  this 
evil  in  his  days."  Our  Saviour's  words  are  in  perfect  accor- 
dance with  the  above  declaration,  "Wo  unto  thee  Chorazin ! 
woe  unto  thee  Bethsaida !  for  if  the  mighty  works  which 
were  done  in  you,  had  been  done  in  Tyre  and  Sidon,  they 
would  have  repented  long  ago  in  sack-cloth  and  ashes." — 
MATTH.  xi,  21. 

When  Almighty  God  expressly  declared  that  sack-cloth, 
a  coarse  hairy  garment,  worn  by  a  man,  was  a  mark  of  humil- 
ity, will  mortal  man  say,  that  to  wear  gay  and  costly 
apparel  is  no  evidence  of  pride  in  the  heart  ?  Let  God  be  true, 
though  every  mortal  man  be  found  guilty  of  falsehood. 

Therefore,  prudence  and  common  sense  dictate  to  us,  that 
we  should  imitate  the  conduct  of  Ahab  and  also  of  the  Nine- 
vite,  by  laying  aside  every  mark  of  wealth  and  show  in  our 
houses,  our  furniture  and  our  apparel,  especially  as  our  bles- 
sed Redeemer  laid  aside  His  exalted  glory  and  bore  the  cross 
and  despised  the  shame,  being  born  in  a  stable  and  having 
marked  the  pathway  to  heaven,  in  and  through  the  deep  val- 
ley of  humility  and  self-denial !  0  let  us  imitate  the  exam- 
ple of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  this  great  conflict.  May  we 
like  our  Lord  and  Master  be  clothed  with  the  beautiful  gar- 
ments of  genuine  humility,  and  thus  drive  Satan  from  his 
favorite  haunt  of  pride  in  our  heart. 

3rd.  Love  of  the  world — Where  the  devil  has  been  driven 
from  his  haunt  of  infidelity  and  pride,  he  retires,  as  his  last 
subterfuge,  into  the  stronghold  of  the  love  of  the  world. 
Here  he  generally  makes  his  most  powerful  and  successful  at- 
tacks upon  the  heart  of  man  ;  Satan  well-knows  that  the  love 
of  the  world  is  the  darkest  crime  a  human  being  can  be  guil- 
ty of;  the  most  malignant  and  fatal  disease  to  which  he  is 
exposed  in  this  unhealthy  clime.  It  was  the  only  disease,  the 
Great  Physician  failed  to  cure,  when  he  was  on  earth  ;  when 
the  rich  young  man  was  directed  by  the  Lord  Jesus,  to  sell 


192  SKETCH  OF 

.all  his  posessions  and  give  the  proceeds  to  the-  poor,  he  went 
away  sorrowful,  for  he  had  great  possessions.  0  how  power- 
fully and  successfully  did  the  devil  fight  for  this  impregnable 
fortress  erected  in  this  amiable  young  man's  heart.  And  to 
the  present  day,  this  stronghold  is  Satan's  favorite  rendezvous. 

Let  us,  therefore,  examine  this  point  with  care  and  candor. 
Were  we  called  on  to  sell  all  our  earthly  possessions  and  give 
the  proceds  to  the  poor,  could  we  promptly  and  cheerfully 
comply  with  the  requisition?  or  would  we  rather  not  go, 
like  the  rich  young  man,  from  Christ,  with  a  sorrowful  heart; 
if  so,  would  it  not  afford  proof  positive  that  we  love  the  world 
and  thereby  afford  the  devil  a  most  desirable  stronghold  in 
our  heart.  Again,  were  we  only  tried  as  was  the  old  patri- 
arch, who  lived  in  a  very  dark  age  of  the  world,  could  we 
meet  the  trials  and  triumphs  as  did  Job^  When  all  his  large 
possessions  were  swept  away,  he  bowed  in  submission,  and 
praised  the  Lord.  Satan  well  knows  that  if  we  love  the  world 
its  money,  its  property,  its  honors,  its  gratifications  more  or 
less,  we  cannot  love  God,  and  must  be  banished  from  his 
presence,  and  the  glory  of  his  power.  There  are  many  who 
deceive  their  own  souls  by  saying,  "I  love  God  better  than  I 
love  the  world."  Were  the  wife  to  use  this  specious  argu- 
ment, and  comfort  her  husband  by  assuring  him  that  she  loves 
him  better  than  the  other  favorites,  it  would  be  mockery,  and 
yet  many  who  pass  for  good  Christians,  will  cast  this  dark 
reproach  upon  the  Saviour,  and  wipe  their  loins  and  say,  '  'I 
have  done  no  wrong." 

Others  console  their  own  hearts  by  saying,  "It  is  true,  I 
am  not  yet  sanctified  wholly,  I  still  feel  the  remains  of  the 
carnal  mind,  but  I  intend  and  expect  to  secure  the  wedding 
garments,  viz.,  pure  love,  before  I  die."  Was  the  wife  to 
adopt  this  language  and  comfort  her  husband  by  assuring  him 
that  it  was  her  sincere  desire  and  intention  to  love  him  per- 
fectly before  she  died  ;  when  she  became  old  and  wrinkled,  it 
would  be  an  insult  which  human  language  cannot  describe, 
and  yet,  professing  Christians  will  carelessly  assume  this  ruinT 
ous  position  in  regard  to  the  Holy  One  of  Israel  and  sit  down 
contentedly,  and  smoke  and  laugh  and  jest  and  murder  their 
precious  moments,  which  should  be  spent  in  fasting  and  pray- 
er. Hence,  the  love  of  the  world  may  be  considered  Satan's 
most  favorite  lurking  place,  his  principal  stronghold,  the  last 
from  which  he  will  be  driven.  Having  briefly  and  imperfect- 


JOHN  HERSEY  193 

ly  examined  some  of  the  devil's  strongholds,  proceed  we, 

Secondly — To  notice  the  nature  of  the  conflict  and  the 
means  through  which  we  may  gain  a  triumphant  victory. 

1st.  The  nature  of  the  conflict. — It  is  a  spiritual  warfare  ; 
hence  the  weapons  of  our  warefare  are  not  carnal,  &c.  It  is 
a  good  cause  ;  "Fight  the  good  fight  of  faith."  It  is  an  in- 
cessant conflict;  if  we  are  only  one  minute  off  our  guard,  the 
insidious  enemy  will  take  advantage  of  that  careless  moment 
to  inflict  a  deadly  wound.  It  is  an  important  battle  ;  if  we 
are  conquered,  eternal  ruin  must  ensue,  including  shame  and 
ceaseless  misery.  "These  shall  go  away  into  everlasting  de- 
struction from  the  presence  of  the  Lord  and  from  the  glory 
of  His  power.'' — MATTII.  xxvi,  46.;  2  THESS.  i,  9.  If  we 
are  courageous  and  gain  the  victory,  eternal  life  shall  be  our 
great  reward,  including  an  inheritance — incorruptible  and  un- 
defiled,  that  fadeth  not  away.  A  home — a  house  not  made 
with  hands  eternal  in  the  heavens ;  and  to  crown  the  victor's 
head,  a  glorious  crown  of  life  shall  be  given.  It  is  enough,  it 
is  an  important  conflict  in  which  we  are  engaged. 

2d.  The  preparation  for  battle — The  Christian  armor;  "The 
weapons  of  our  warfare."  The  ancients  used  both  offensive 
and  defensive  armor,  and  as  our  foes  are  numerous,  insidious 
and  malignant  and  we  shall  have  to  fight  at  every  step  through 
life,  for  liberty  and  all  our  gospel  privileges,  it  will  be  impor- 
tant and  necessary,  that  we  put  on  the  whole  armor  of  God, 
as  cowardice  invariably  marks  the  soldier's  character  with 
shame  and  disgrace  ;  all  slavish  fear  must  be  laid  aside. 

The  Apostle  to  the  Gentiles,  has  given  us  a  full  description 
of  the  Christian  soldier's  armor,  Ephv.  i,  13-18.  (1)  "Stand 
therefore,  having  your  loins  girt  about  with  the  truth."  God's 
word  is  truth.  The  girdle  for  our  loins  must  be  composed 
of  scripture  doctrines ;  if  our  doctrine  is  defective  or  not  true 
when  the  discovery  is  made,  it  will  weaken  our  loins  and 
cause  our  knees  to  smite  together;  it  behooves  us,  therefore, 
to  receive  and  preach  that  doctrine  which  will  stand  on  the 
judgment  day,  viz:  the  proper  divinity  of  Jesus  Christ,  that 
by  his  death,  he  made  atonement  for  us,  that  by  repentance 
and  faith,  only,  we  may  receive  pardon,  regeneration,  and 
sanctification,  and  that  through  faith  in  Jesus  Christ,  we  may 
live  holy,  righteous  and  godly  lives  on  earth,  and  enjoy  eter- 
nal life  in  heaven.  "He  that  believeth  shall  be  saved,  and  he 
that  believeth  not  shall  be  damned." 


194  SKETCH  OF 

2nd. —  The  Ircastplate  of  righteousness. — Nothing  but  this 
breastplate  can  protect  our  vital  parts  from  the  assaults  of  our 
enemies.  Our  hearts  must  be  made  perfect,  and  right  and 
pure  and  good  by  the  mighty  power  of  that  God  who  has  done 
all  things  well,  whose  signature  is  purity  and  perfection.  We 
must  keep  this  important  piece  of  armor  bright  by  faith  and 
prayer.  May  our  righteousness  never  become  dim  or  rusty. 

3d. —  Yt,ur  feet  shod  with  the  preparation  of  the  Gospel  of 
Peace. — We  must  expect  to  meet  with  briars  and  thorns  in 
our  pathway  to  heaven.  We  shall  be  assailed  frequently  by 
persecution  and  sore  temptation,  piercing  our  feet  most  pain- 
fully ;  our  feet  must  therefore,  be  shod  with  peace ;  a  pure 
spirit  of  peace  and  love  in  connection  with  a  pure  heart  will 
enable  us  to  trample  all  the  briars  and  thorns  beneath  our 
feet,  not  only  those  which  proceed  from  the  mouth  of  bitter 
and  enraged  men,  but  also  devils ;  God  will  shortly  bruise 
Satan  under  your  feet.  Let  us  therefore  put  on  the  gospel 
shoes  of  peace, — peace  and  love. 

4th. — The  shield  of  faith. — A  defensive  piece  of  armor 
used  by  the  ancients ;  sometime  made  of  metal,  but  more  fre- 
quently of  tanned  hides,  that  were  anointed  with  oil,  in  order 
to  render  them  smooth,  compact  and  firm.  Faith  is  the 
Christian  soldier's  shield,  which  if  dexterously  managed,  will 
successfully  ward  off  all  the  fiery  darts  of  the  wicked  one. 

INFIDELITY.  Unbelief,  constitutes  Satan's  most  successful 
stronghold;  but  faith,  strong  faith,  demolishes  that  fortifica- 
tion at  a  blow  and  leaves  the  enemy  exposed  to  the  triumph- 
ant assaults  of  humble,  fervent  prayer.  All  things  are  pos- 
sible to  him  that  believeth  ;  we  should,  therefore,  always 
keep  the  shield  of  faith  in  active  exercise.  The  Christian  is 
never  safe,  no,  not  for  one  moment,  without  the  shield  of 
faith.  Paul  says,  "For  we  walk  by  faith,  not  by  sight."  So 
that  every  step  through  life  should  be  regulated  by  the  rule 
of  faith,  "Whatever  is  not  faith,  is  sin;"  so  that  whatever 
we  do  or  say,  should  be  done  and  said  to  the  glory  of  God. 

5.  The  helmet  of  salvation. — "God  is  my  salvation,  there- 
fore, I  will  not  fear  what  man  can  do  unto  me."  The  saving 
power  and  the  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  should  always 
rest  upon  the  Christian  soldier's  head;  add  to  this,  "The 
sword  of  the  spirit,"  which  is  the  word  of  God.  This  is  our 
two  edged  sword ;  its  promises  foil  our  enemies  and  crowns 
us  with  peace  and  safety ;  its  commands,  denunciations  and 


JOHN  HEESEY.  195 

inflexible  justice  conquers  and  slays  every  assailant.  0  let  us 
wield  this  sharp  sword  dexterously  and  wisely,  and  certain 
victory  will  ensue;  we  must  not  fail,  however,  to  accompany 
all  our  efforts  with  prayer,  humble  fervent  prayer ;  it  is  not 
the  soldier,  but  the  Captain  who  gains  the  victory  in  all  our 
battles  ;  hence,  we  must  implore  and  secure  the  presence  and 
aid  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  every  conflict;  in  our  prayers  we 
must  be  careful  to  avoid  formality,  they  must  be  accompanied 
with  and  enforced  by  supplication  in  the  spirit ;  we  must 
strive,  fight,  press  our  cause  upon  our  knees;  we  must  "pray 
without  ceasing ;"  and  yet,  further,  we  must  watch  as  well  as 
pray,  or  watching  thereunto  with  all  perserverance.  We  must 
watch  every  motion  of  the  enemy,  either  from  without,  or 
from  within,  watch  diligently  every  thought,  every  word, 
every  desire,  every  motive  and  action.  By  a  judicious  appli- 
cation of  the  Christian  armor,  we  shall  learn  that  the  weapons 
of  our  warfare  are  not  carnal,  but  mighty  through  God,  to 
the  pulling  down  of  all  Satan's  strongholds.  Thus  through 
the  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  we  may  gain  and  secure 
a  glorious,  a  triumphant  victory  over  all  our  enemies,  and  en- 
ter through  the  gates  triumphantly  into  the  New  Jerusalem, 
the  Holy  City  of  God,  to  go  no  more  out  forever,  where  we 
shall  lay  the  weapons  of  our  warfare  by,  where  eternal  peace 
shall  be  proclaimed  to  all  Christ's  faithful,  valiant  soldiers — 
Amen. 


There  having  been  some  doubts  expressed  about  his  views 
on  the  Methodist  doctrine  of  Sanctification,  wo  here  insert  a 
short  address  on  that  important  subject  taken  from  his  writings. 

PART  II.  • 

Address  to  our  Christian  Friends  who  do  not  believe  that 
God's  children  can  be  perfect  in  this  evil  world. 

INTRODUCTORY  REMARKS. 

"See  that  ye  fall  not  out  by  the  way." — Gen.,  xlv:  24.— 
This  salutary  counsel  is  as  applicable  to  Christians  in  this 
nineteenth  century,  as  it  was  to  Joseph's  brethren.  We  ara 


196  SKETCH  OF 

all  strangers  in  a  strange  land ;  all  travelers,  and  all  children 
of  the  same  merciful  Father;  therefore,  we  should  all  strive 
together  for  the  faith  of  the  gospel  in  a  spirit  bf  meekness  and 
affection.  The  plan  of  salvation  revealed  in  the  gospel  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  presents  a  fountain  of  uniningled  mercy 
poured  forth  upon  a  guilty  world,  not  with  the  voice  of  thun-~ 
der  and  a  stormy  tempest  bursting  from  the  summit  of  a 
smoking  Sinai,  but  in  noiseless,  boundless  streams  issuing 
from  the  throne  of  God  and  of  the  Lamb,  in  floods  of  infinite 
and  eternal  compassion  and  love.  When  their  mighty  maker, 
the  eternal  God  became  man,  the  angels  left  their  high  abode 
and  flew  with  joyful  haste  to  bear  the  news  to  our  world ;  to 
the  humble  watchful  shepherds  they  disclosed  the  secret  of 
redeeming  love,  "Fear  not,  there  is  no  cause  for  trembling 
now,  no  sound  of  terror  comes  from  heaven  to-day :  we  bring 
glad  tidings  of  great  joy  to  all  your  fallen  race;  pardon  and 
peace  and  holiness  and  heaven,  are  all  in  Jesus'  name,  unto 
you  a  child  is  born,  unto  you  a  son  is  given;  and  the  govern- 
ment shall  be  upon  his  shoulder,  and  his  name^shall  be  called 
Wonderful,  Counsellor,  the  mighty  God,  the  everlasting  Father 
the  Prince  of  Peace." — Isaiah  ix,  6.  The  gospel  of  the  Son 
of  God  is  a  -system  of  rich  and  abundant  privileges  which  all 
may  freely  claim  and  richly  enjoy.  All  the  guilty  sons  of 
Adam  may  look  and  live,  for  our  God  is  no  respecter  of  per- 
sons. Although  the  rich  men  of  the  earth  are  almost  exclu- 
ded from  the  Kingdom,  yet  even  they  need  not  despond,  for 
the  Lord  Jesus  declares  that  with  God,  even  their  salvation 
is  possible.  Why  should  we  therefore  contend  and  fall  out  by 
the  way,  seeing  we  are  all  equally  guilty,  yes,  verily,  guilty 
of  our  brother's  blood  ;  yet  through  His  atoning  merits,  we 
all  have  an  equal  claim  on  mercy's  boundless  store.  Our 
Brother  is  not  only  Governor  of  Egypt,  but  he  is  the  rightful 
sovereign  of  heaven  and  earth.  His  promises  are  not  only 
great,  but  they  are  very  precious.  "If  ye  abide  in  me,  and 
my  words  abide  in  you,  ye  shall  ask  what  ye  will,  and  it  shall 
be  done  unto  you." — John,  xv,  7. 

In  view  of  such  abundant  blessings  and  privileges,  shall 
we  be  more  stupid  and  unwise,  than  the  blind  sons  of  Belial  ? 
Respecting  earthly  things,  they  claim  and  eagerly  contend 
for  every  cent  to  which  they  are  entitled  by  law  ;  should  a 
friend  bequeath  to  any  one  of  them,  a  legacy  of  a  few  thou- 
sand dsllars,  he  would  urge  his  claim  to  the  last  cent,  even 
through  the  iron  door  of  a  legal  process. 


JOHN  MERSEY  197 

Shall  our  Heavenly  Father  bequeath  to  us  the  rich  legacy  of 
a  pure  heart,  perfect  love,  a  spotless,  glorious  wedding  gar- 
ment, which  cost  the  precious  blood  of  the  Son  of  God,  and 
shall  we  refuse  to  receive  the  unspeakable  gift  at  his  hand  ? 
Surely  such  conduct  argues  folly  in  the  extreme.  Rather  let 
us  claim  all  the  rich  privileges  of  the  gospel,  firmly  aud 
promptly,  knowing  that  He  who  spared  not  His  own  Son,  but 
delivered  Him  up  for  us  all,  will,  with  Him,  freely  give  us 
all  things — this  in  particular — a  new,  pure,  clean  heart,  yes, 

•  A  heart  in  every  thought  renewed, 

And  full  of  love  divine, 
Perfect  and  right  and  pure  and  good, 
A  copy,   Lord  of  Thine. 


JOHN  IIERSEY'S  VIEWS  ON 
LEARNING  AND  LEARNED  INSTITUTIONS. 

I  now  approach  a  subject  of  vital  importance  to  the  Church  ; 
and  I  am  fully  awure  that  in  the  expression  of  my  sentiment 
in  regard  to  it,  I  shall  stand  far — very  far  in  the  minority. 

Few,  very  few,  particularly  in  the  ministry,  will  consider  my 
sentiments  either  orthodox  or  reasonable.  If,  however,  I  can 
have  God's  word  and  reason's  voice  with  me,  I  shall  have  noth- 
ing to  fear.  Noah  stood  almost  alone  in  his  day,  Lot  found 
very  few  who  were  willing  to  go  with  him  when  he  fled  from 
a  devored  city,  the  Lord  Jesus  and  his  little  band  of  followers, 
were  very  far  in  the  minority,  but  they  were  not  cast  down. 
I  will  therefore,  take  courage,  put  my  trust  alome  in  Israel's 
God,  and  venture  to  show  my  opinion  also. 

My  remarks  in  this  place,  will  be  confined  to  the  subject  of 
'learning  and  learned  institutions'  in  connection  with  the 
Church.  I  do  not  intend  to  undervalue  knowledge,  or  human 
learning.  I  do  not  believe  the  unsound  and  enthusiastic  doc- 
trine, that  "Ignorance  is  the  mother  of  devotion."  It  will, 
however,  be  admitted  by  every  unprejudiced  mind,  either  in 
or  out  of  the  Church,  that  good  things,  nay,  the  best  things 
on  earth,  maybe  abused  and  misplaced,  and  thus  become  cur- 
ses rather  than  blessings ;  even  literary  institutions,  when  they 


193  SKETCH  OF 

are  found  out  of  their  legitimate  place,  may  produce  discord 
rather  than  harmony.  I  assume  the  position,  that  colleges  and 
literary  institutions  belong  to  the  world's  department  and 
not  the  Church. 

The  Lord  Jesus  says  of  his  followers  who  constitute  the 
Church  :  "Ye  are  not  of  the  world,  I  have  chosen  you  out  of 
the  world,  marvel  not  therefore,  that  the  world  hates  you." 

Money  has  been  called  the  mammon  of  unrighteousness; 
the  God  of  this  world.  One  reason  why  it  is  so  called*  is  on 
account  of  the  power  it  possesses,  and  the  homage  generally 
paid  to  those  who  have  it  in  their  possession.  Learning,  (by 
which  I  mean  a  finished  collegiate  education,)  has  still  greater 
power. 

The  rich  man  may  oppress  the  poor,  and  cause  bis  power  to 
be  felt  in  divers  ways;  yet  were  he  an  ignorant  man,  he  would 
be  looked  on  by  men  of  refinement  with  pity  and  contempt; 
but  an  accomplished  education  will  procure  for  its  possessors 
an  honorable  reception  in  Kings'  courts,  and  secure  to  him 
(if  he  is  an  upright  man,)  the  friendship  and  admiration  of 
the  distinguished  men  of  the  world.  In  ordinary  cases  neither 
the  rich,  nor  the  learned  and  wise  men,  will  willingly  bow  to 
the  cross  of  Jesus  Christ,  or  treat  those  who  consistently  bear 
it  with  common  respect.  Should  they  be  members  or  minis- 
ters of  the  church,  when  they  speak  on  the  subject  of  the 
Cross,  they  confine  ail  the  pain,  and  shame  and  reproach  con- 
nected therewith  to  Jesus  Christ  exclusively.  Nor  will  they 
touch  it  with  one  of  their  fingers.  Paul  glorieth  in  the  cross 
of  Christ,  not  only  in  theory  or  imagination,  but  in  reality,  by 
it  he  was  crucified  unto  the  world,  viz,  he  was  exposed  to 
nakedness  and  buffeting  and  persecution,  and  was  counted  as 
the  filth  and  off-scouring  of  all  things.  In  these  he  gloried, 
but  generally,  our  learned  and*wise  men  will  beg  to  be.excused 
from  such  exaltation. 

I  know  there  are  and  have  been,  in  every  age  of  the  world, 
honorable  exceptions  to  this  general  rule,  when  the  circum- 
stances of  the  Church  require  the  aid  of  human  learning. 
God  can  call  a  Moses  from  the  King's  court  and  Saul  of  Tar- 
sus from  the  feet  of  Gamaliel,  and  when  they  are  powerfully 
convicted,  or  converted  to  God,  they  will  choose  rather  to 
suffer  affliction  with  the  people  of  God,  than  to  enjoy  the 
pleasures  of  sin  for  a  season,  they  will  esteem  the  reproaches 


JOHN  HERSEY.  199 

of  Christ  greater  riches,  than  the  treasures  of  Egypt ;  their 
language  will  be,  "Yea,  doubtless  and  I  count,  all  things  but 
loss  for  the  excellency  of  the  knowledge  of  Christ  Jesus,  my 
Lord,  for  whom  I  have  suffered  the  loss  of  all  things  and  do 
count  them  but  dung,  that  I  may  win  Christ  and  be  found  in 
Him,  not  having  on  my  own  righteousness  which  is  of  the 
law,  &c.;"  iu  modern  times,  there  have  been  many  burning 
and  shining  lights  in  the  Church,  who  were  men  of  extensive 
^earning,  as  they  were  also  of  deep  piety  ;  the  Wesleys  and 
Fletcher  and  others  connected  with  them,  shone  as  flaming 
heralds  of  the  Cross  and  were  abundantly  successful  under  the 
influence  of  divine  grace,  in  reforming  and  purifying  the 
Church  and  also  a  wicked  world ;  it  was  not,  however,  neces- 
sary, nor  agreeable,  to  the  order  of  the  divine  economy,  that 
all  who  preached  the  gospel  should  be  learned  men  in  that 
day  ;  the  greater  part  of  the  labor,  even  of  preaching,  was 
performed  by  unlearned  men  ;  especially  was  the  implantation 
and  triumphant  progress  of  Methodism,  or  pure  and  undefiled 
religion,  in  these  United  States,  effected  principally  by  un- 
learned men  ;  and  at  the  commencement  of  the  gospel  of 
Jesus  Christ  on  earth,  the  principal  part  of  the  labor  and 
efficient  work,  was  performed  by  ignorant  and  unlearned 
men.  Now,  is  it  reasonable  to  suppose  that  the  Lord  Jesus 
when  He  laid  the  corner-stone  of  His  church  on  earth,  could 
make  a  mistake,  or  set  an  example  which  His  followers  in  all 
after  ages,  could  not  pursue  with  safety  and  success?  Jesus 
Christ  could  have  called  in  to  his  aid,  the  learned  and  wise 
men  of  his  day,  but  he  chose  in  his  wisdom,  to  act  otherwise. 
He  called  His  disciples,  generally,  from  the  lower  walks  of 
life,  from  the  fishing  net,  &c.  If  there  ever  was  a  time,  or 
circumstance,  that  called  for  human  learning,  it  was  at  the 
commencement  of  the  gospel  dispensation  ;  when  an  error 
in  doctrine,  or  in  experience,  or  in  practice  would  have  been 
attended  with  the  most  pernicious,  if  not  ruinous  consequen- 
ces. It  may  be  said  that  the  apostles  acted  under  the  imme- 
diate influence  and  inspiration  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

True,  and  who  can  prove  by  the  word  of  God,  that  the  in- 
fluence of  the  Holy  Spirit  has  ever  been  (by  divine  appoint- 
ment) withdrawn  from  Christ's  Church  and  his  ministering 
servants?  If  (as  it  is  believed  by  man)')  the  gospel  and  the 
grace  of  God  shines  brighter  when  it  emanates  from  men  of 
learning,  than  when  it  is  preached  by  unlearned  men,  why 


200  SKETCH  OF 

did  not  Christ  select  all  his  apostles  from  the  learned^  circles? 

Surely  wisdom  and  prudence  would  unequivocally  dictate 
the  course,  as  the  best  which  could  be,  which  was  considered 
greatly  preferable  at  a  later  period  in  the  history  of  the  Church. 

If  therefore  the  Church  of  Christ  was  originally  built  up 
principally  by  unlearned  men,  and  when  God  greatly  revived 
the  cause  of  pure  religion  in  the  earth,  and  visited  his  people 
in  great  power  in  the  eighteenth  century  through  the  instru- 
mentality of  J.  Wesley  and  others,  the  work  was  effected 
principally  by  unlearned  men,  is  it  reasonable  to  suppose  that 
it  must  now  be  perpetuated  and  secured  from  error  only  by 
human  learning"?  Learning  has  not  a  tendency  to  harmonize 
and  unite  the  Church  of  Christ,  or  to  dissipate  the  clouds  and 
difficulties  which  seem  to  rest  on  many  parts  of  God's  written 
word;  on  the  contrary,  extensive  and  ruinous  discord  has  been 
introduced  into  the  bosom  of  the  Church,  by  learned  and  pious 
men.  The  doctrine  of  Election  and  Reprobation  which  has 
filled  the  Protestant  churches  with  bitterness  and  discord,  and 
still  continues  to  becloud  the  glory  of  the  Son  of  Righteous- 
ness, in  many  parts  of  th'e  Lord's  vineyard.  Even  this  unrea- 
sonable theory  emanated  from  a  man  of  talent  and  learning, 
who  is  also  represented  to  have  sustained  a  good  and  pious 
character.  Although  this  extraordinary  system  of  divinity 
has  been  ably  and  I  think  conclusively  refuted  by  many  pious 
and  learned  authors;  and  never  was  it  made  to  feel  its  own 
weakness  and  deformity,  as  sensibly  as  it  was  under  the  minis- 
try of  the  early,  but  unlearned  Methodist  preachers,  who 
assailed  it  with  the  powerful  weapons  of  truth  and  reason, 
under  the  omnipotent  influence  of  the  Holy  Ghost  sent  down 
from.  Heaven,  yet  it  is  still  believed  and  advocated  by  many 
learned  and  wise  and  professedly  pious  ministers  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.  Many  of  the  advocates  of  the  numerous  and 
conflicting  creeds  which  abound  in  the  present  day,  are  learn- 
ed and  wise  and  good  men,,  yet  they  inflexibly  adhere  to  the 
doctrine  which  has  been  instilled  into  their  mind,  by  the 
force  of  education  ;  and  their  prejudices  are  generally  if  not 
uniformly  strengthened  and  confirmed  by  the  power  of  their 
superior  learning,  which  enables  them  to  fortify  and  defend 
their  errors  by  learned  and  specious  arguments. 

It  may,  therefore,  be  said  without  fear  of  successful  con- 
tradiction, that  learning  does  not  particularly  qualify  ministers 
to  enforce  the  plain,  simple,  experimental  and  practical 


JOHN  HERSEY.  201 

truths  of  the  gospel,  as  efficiently,  as  it  does  to  defend  their 
own  peculiar  views  and  tenets,  and  to  explore  what  they  es- 
teem the  errors  of  others  ;  hence  a  perpetual  war  is  kept  up 
by  learned  divines,  not  so  much  in  support  of  truth  and 
righteousness,  as  to  establish  and  confirm  their  own  peculiar 
sentiments.  When  young  men  are  educated  with  a  view  to 
the  ministry,  they  naturally  conclude  that  as  they  know  more 
than  others,  they  must  be  better  ;  consequently  they  frequent- 
ly and  almost  uniformly  assume  an  air  of  importance,  alto- 
gether incompatible  with  the  holy  religion  of  their  meek  and 
lowly  Redeemer.  Nor  does  this  unholy  leaven  exist  in  a  lat- 
ent state ;  they  soon  begin  to  think  that  their  talents  and  in- 
tellectual advantages,  entitle  them  to  a  higher  seat  in  the 
synagogue,  than  their  unlearned,  but  pious  brother.  Hence 
a  train  of  evils  are  engendered  in  their  own  bosom,  which 
soon  diffuses  its  influence  among  others  and  contaminates  the 
house  of  God  with  pride  and  dissension,  where  nothing  but 
humility  should  exist.  Our  learned  young  men  soon  become 
critics  and  esteem  a  grammatical  error  made  by  a  preacher,  a 
sufficient  crime  to  expel  the  ignoramus  from  the  ministry. 
Many  old  veterans  of  the  Cross,  who  have  born  the  burden 
and  heat  of  the  day,  and  into  whose  labors  those  young  stu- 
dents have  entered,  are  afraid  to  speak  in  their  presence,  lest 
they  should  make  a  mistake  and  thereby  become  the  objects 
of  ridicule.  This  is  a  grievous  evil,  which  many  worthy 
servants  of  the  Lord  Jesus  have  been  doomed  to  writhe  un- 
der in  silent  anguish  for  years.  As  extensive  learning  is  not 
an  essential  qualification  for  a  gospel  ministry,  their  divine 
Master  has  promised  to  give  them  a  mouth  and  wisdom  which 
all  their  adversaries  shall  not  be  able  to  gainsay  nor  resist. 
They  speak  by  the  authority  of  God,  accompanied  with  the 
sacred  influence  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  their  word  reaches 
the  sinner's  hearts,  and  becomes  the  power  of  God  unto  sal- 
vation, it  is  not  reasonable  to  suppose  that  God  calls  foolish 
and  improper  characters  to  the  work  of  the  ministry;  and 
though  they  may  not  have  the  wisdom  or  the  learning  of  the 
world  to  lean  upon,  yet  have  they  the  more  important  wis- 
dom which  cometh  from  above,  and  fully  qualifies  them  to 
preach  the  gospel  in  its  purity  with  power  and  efficiency. 
They  are  taught  of  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God  ;  hence  they  do 
not  strive  about  words  to  no  profit,  but  to  the  subverting  of 
the  heavens  ;  they  study  to  show  themselves  approved  unto 
God,  workmen  who  need  not  be  aehamed,  rightly  dividing 


202  SKETCH  OF 

the  word  of  truth,  it  is  worthy  of  notice, -that  the  gospel 
shines  brighter,  and  God  is  more  glorified,  by  the  ministry 
of  unlearned  than  of  learned  men.  When  Paul  (who  was 
known  to  be  a  learned  man,)  reasoned  powerfully  before  Fes- 
tus,  he  cried  out,  "  Paul  thou  art  beside  thyself,  much  learn- 
ing doth  make  thee  mad; "  thus  giving  the  praise  and  glory 
to  learning;  but  when  Peter  and  John  healed  the  lame  man, 
and  preached  Christ  powerfully  to  the  audience,  they  gave 
the  glory  to  God.  "Now  when  they  saw  the  boldness  of 
Peter  and  John,  and  perceived  that  they  were  unlearned  and 
ignorant  men,  they  marvelled;  and  took  knowledge  of  them, 
that  they  had  been  with  Jesus."  If  extensive  learning  is  an 
essential  qualification  for  a  minister  of' Jesus  Christ,  and  will 
indeed  (as  many  believe,)  qualify  its  possessor  to  enjoy  a 
higher  degree  of  happiness  in  heaven,  than  an  ignorant  and 
unlearned  man,  Christ  certainly  erred  when  he  delivered  the 
following  benediction,  accompanied  with  a  most  solemn  mal- 
ediction: Blessed  be  ye  poor,  for  yours  is  the  kingdom  of 
God,  but  woe  unto  you  that  are  rich,  for  ye  have  received 
your  consolation."  There  are  very  few  of  the  poor  of  this 
world,  who  are,  or  can  ever  hope  to  be  men  of  learning,  un- 
less it  is  through  the  charity  of  those  who  are  wealthy; 
while  the  rich  men  of  this  world,  are  about  uniformly  favor- 
ed with  learning;  yet  hath  God  chosen  the  poor  of  this  world, 
rich  in  faith,  and  heirs  of  the  kingdom  which  he  hath  prom- 
ised to  them  that  love  him. 

I  shall  now  appeal  to  the  law  and  to  the  testimony,  by  the 
authority  of  God's  holy  word,  and  that  rigidly  and  faithfully 
applied,  must  we  all  stand  or  fall.  There  is  not,  I  appre- 
hend one  plain  text  in  the  New  Testament,  which  proves  that 
earthly  learning  or  wisdom  is  necessary  to  qualify  a  minister 
of  Jesus  Christ,  for  his  holy  duty.  Christ  says,  "I  thank 
thee,  0,  Father,  Lord  of  heaven  and  earth,  because  thou 
hast  hid  these  things  from  the  wise  and  prudent  and  hast  re- 
vealed them  unto  babes,  even  so  Father,  for  it  seemed  good 
in  thy  sight."  Matt,  xi,  25,  26.  May  it  not  be,  that  in  ac- 
cordance with  this  divine  declaration,  the  purity,  simplicity, 
and  harmony  of  the  gospel  has  been  "hid"  from  our  D.D.'s, 
therefore,  division  and  discord  has  fallen  on  the  M.  E. 
Church  ?  When  John  sent  his  disciples  to  Jesus  to  inquire 
whether  He  was  the  Christ  or  not,  the  Lord  Jesus  said,  in 
reply  to  those  messengers,  "  Go  and  shew  John  again  these 


JOHN  HERSEY.  203 

things  which  ye  do  hear  and  see ;  the  blind  receive  their 
sight,  and  the  deaf  hear,  the  dead  one  raised  up,  and  the 
poor  have  the  gospel  preached  unto  them.  Matt,  xi,  4,  5. 
The  poor  are  not  often  found  among  the  wise  and  learned  of 
this  world  ;  neither  does  it  require  extensive  learning  to  qual- 
ify a  man  to  preach  the  gospel  to  them.  It  may  be  said,  "If 
we  are  qualified  to  preach  the  gospel  correctly  and  learnedly 
to  the  rich,  the  poor  may  receive  it  also."  Not  so;  the  poor 
cannot  comprehend  or  understand  the  import  of  many  words 
and  phrases  in  common  use  among  the  learned ;  but  on  the 
contrary,  if  we  speak  the  plain  unadorned  language  of  pro- 
priety, simplicity  and  the  holy  scriptures,  the  rich  and  learn- 
ed can  fully  comprehend  the  bearing  and  import  of  every 
word  and  sentiment  expressed.  Thus  the  wise  and  learned 
individual  cannot  but  with  the  utmost  difficulty  obey  the  com- 
mand of  Jesus  Christ — Go  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every 
creature,"  for  they  have  received  a  language  in  the  college 
which  renders  them  partially  barbarians  to  the  ignorant  and 
unlearned,  it  will,  I  apprehend,  be  generally,  if  not  univer- 
sally conceded,  that  the  real  design  of  extensive  learning  is 
not  to  qualify  us  to  preach  the  gospel  to  the  poor  and  illiter- 
ate, but  to  the  rich  and  the  learned.  Were  the  point  conced- 
ed (which  is  not  the  case,)  that  extensive  learning  is  a  neces- 
sary appendage  to  qualify  us  to  preach  the  gospel  to  the 
learned  and  the  rich,  would  it  be  wise  or  prudent  to  qualify 
every  minister,  (that,  too.  at  a  considerable  expense  of  money 
and  time,)  to  preach  to  a  portion  of  the  community  who  are 
seldom  called  ;  and  so  slender  is  their  hope  of  salvation,  that 
our  Master  says,  that  it  is  easier  for  a  camel  to  pass  through 
the  eye  of  a  needle,  than  for  a  rich  man  to  enter  into  the 
kingdom  of  heaven.  The  anathema  of  our  divine  Redeemer 
rests  on  them — "  Woe  unto  you  that  are  rich ;"  and  as  it  re- 
gards this  subject,  Paul  makes  the  following  strong  remarks, 
"  For  ye  see  your  calling,  brethren,  how  that  not  many  wise 
men  after  the  flesh,  not  many  mighty,  not  many  noble  are 
called  ;  but  God  hath  chosen  the  foolish  things  of  this  world 
to  confound  the  wise;  and  God  hath  chosen  the  weak  things 
of  this  world  to  confound  the  things  which  are  mighty  ;  and 
the  base  things  of  this  world,  and  the  things  which  are  des- 
pised, hath  God  chosen,  yea,  and  things  which  are  not,  to 
bring  to  naught  things  that  are."  I  Cor.  1,  2G,  28.  I  can- 
not conceive  how  it  is  possible  for  any  individual  possessed 
of  common  understanding  to  misunderstand  the  Apostles  ar- 


204  SKETCH     OF 

gument  in  the  above  passage,  which  will  certainly  prove 
anything  else,  rather  than  that  the  learning  and  wisdom  of 
this  world  is  necessary  to  qualify  a  minister  of  Christ  to 
preach  the  gospel.  The  same  apostle  expressly  declares  that 
the  wisdom  of  this  world  is  foolishness  with  God.  Again  he 
says,  "  For  Christ  sent  me  not  to  baptize,  but  to  preach  the 
gospel ;  not  with  wisdom  of  words,  lest  the  Cross  of  Christ 
should  be  made  of  none  effect." 

I  might  [transcribe  nearly  every  paragraph  in  the  first, 
second  and  third  chapters  of  Paul's  first  letter  to  the  Cor- 
inthian Church,  with  many  other  passages  interspersed, 
throughout  the  New  Testament  to  prove  that  extensive  learn- 
ing is  not  necessary  to  the  success  of  the  gospel  preacher,  but 
frequently  a  direct  hindrance.  I  will  only  advert  to  the  follow- 
ing quotation  to  which  I  must  beg  the  readers  most  serious 
attention.  "And  I  brethren,  when  I  come  to  you,  come  not 
with  excellency  of  speech,  or  of  wisdom,  declaring  unto  you 
the  testimony  of  God,  for  I  determined  not  to  know  anything 
among  you  save  Jesus  Christ,  and  him  crucified.  And  I  was 
with  you  in  weakness,  and  in  fear,  and  in  much  trembling ; 
and  my  speech  and  my  preaching,  was  not  with  enticing  words 
of  man's  wisdom,  but  in  demonstration  of  the  spirit,  and  in 
power,  that  your  faith  should  not  stand  in  the  wisdom  of  man, 
but  in  the  power  of  God.  Howbeit  we  speak  wisdom  among 
them  that  are  perfect,  yet  not  the  wisdom  of  this  world,  nor 
of  the  princes  of  this  world,  that  cometh  to  naught,  but  we 
speak  the  wisdom  of  God  in  a  mystery,  even  the  hidden  wis- 
dom which  God  ordained  before  the  world,  to  our  glory." 

Paul  was  evidently  himself,  a  learned  man;  but  he  laid  even 
his  learning  down  a  willing  sacrifice  at  the  shrine  of  his  divine 
Master's  cross,  together  with  his  other  numerous  earthly  dis- 
tinctions, and  went  out  in  obedience  to  the  call  and  command 
of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  into  the  streets  and  lanes  of  the 
City,  and  into  the  world  preaching  the  gospel  to  the  poor  and 
the  maimed,  and  the  halt  and  the  blind,  nor  did  he  fail  to 
warn  the  rich  and  the  wise  of  their  imminent  danger,  whilst 
he  invited  them  to  forsake  those  vanities,  and  seek  mercy  and 
eternal  life,  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Paul  was  inti- 
mately acquainted  with  human  nature,  and  also  the  power 
and  efficacy  of  divine  grace,  when  he  said,  "Knowledge  puf- 
feth  up,  but  charity  edifieth."  As  God  hates  a  proud  look, 
should  we  not  feel  somewhat  afraid  of  that  which  has  a  ten- 


JOHN  HERSEY,  205 

deucy  to  swell  a  haughty  worm,  and  thereby  render  us  offen- 
sive in  the  sight  of  God?  We  should  dread  more  than  death 
.any  circumstance,  or  creature,  or  thing,  which  may  by  any 
means  turn  us  froni  the  unfrequented,  but  honorable  path  of 
deep  and  genuine  humility,  which  always  bears  the  impress 
of  the  meek  and  lowly  Saviour's  foot-steps.  The  Lord  Jesus 
.asks  the  important  question,  "How  can  ye  believe  which 
receive  honor  one  from  another,  and  seek  not  the  honor  that 
cometh  from  God  only?"  In  open  view  of  that  dangerous 
error,  he  carefully  guards  us  against  giving  orr'eceiving  titles 
of  distinction,  lie  says:  "The  scribes  and  Pharisees  love 
greeting  in  the  market,  and  to  be  called  of  men,  Rabbi,  Rabbi, 
but  ye  are  not  called  Rabbi,  for  one  is  your  Master,  even 
Christ;  and  ye  are  brethren;  but  he  that  is  greatest  among 
you,  shall  be  your  servant.  And  whosoever  shall  exalt  him- 
self, shall  be  abased."  Now  are  not  our  colleges  openly  and 
palpably  arrayed  against  the  sentiments  and  the  positive  com- 
mands of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ? 

Those  institutions  of  learning  deal  out  carelessly  titles  of 
honorable  distinction,  and  many  of  our  leading  men  in  Israel 
receive  them  without  one  objection.  0,  God !  the  God  of 
our  fathers,  arouse  the  Church,  and  may  her  strong  men  of 
Israel  leave  the  lap  of  Delilah,  and  escape  from  the  arms  of 
the  god  of  this  world,  before  the  Philistines  put  out  both  our 
eyes. 

From  the  weight  of  testimony  found  in  the  New  Testa- 
ment against  extensive  learning  as  a  qualification  for  the 
ministry,  and  the  little  that  is  said  in  favor  of  it,  should  we 
not  pause  and  reflect,  and  fast  and  pray  for  pure  light  from 
heaven  on  this  momentous  subject?  Is  it  not  possible  that 
we  may  be  found  on  the  side  of  the  world,  fighting  against 
God,  and  the  cross  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ?  As  the  gospel 
breathes  a  constant  stream  of  mercy  to  the  poor,  and  de- 
nounces the  rich;  if  we  must  interfere  in  the  subject  of  edu- 
cation, should  we  not  rather  recommend  and  encourage 
schools  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor?  Something  similar  to 
the  district  schools,  now  established  in  most  of  our  States  and 
counties.  Very  few  except  the  rich  are  benefitted  by  our 
colleges.  A  poor  man  cannot  pay  the  board  and  incidental 
expenses  connected  with  any  of  our  colleges,  were  he  to  re- 
ceive the  tuition  gratis.  Nor  is  it  reasonable  or  right  in  the 
sight  of  God,  to  receive  money  from  the  poor  to  educate  rich 


206  SKETCH  OF 

men's  children.     Let  the  wealthy  part  of  the  community  and 
of   the  Church  manage  their  own   concerns,  while  we  turn 
with  the  blessings  of  the  gospel  to  the  poor;  and  if  their 
education  devolves  on  the  Church  even  in  part,  let  us  recom- 
mend all  our  members  to  give  their  children  a  good  English 
education — nay,  let  us  see  that  it  is  done ;  and  then  teach 
them  (by  example  and  precept)  to  save  the  money  now  wast- 
ed for  fine  clothes,  and  houses  and  furniture,  and  rich  food, 
and  live  like  our  Divine  Master,   a  self-denying  life  in  all 
things ;    and  teach  them  further,  to  apply  the  money  thus 
saved  to  the  purchase  of  good  religious  books,  including  an- 
cient  and    modern  history ,  and  then   let  all  the  time  now 
wasted  in  visiting  and  idle  conversation,  be  occupied  in  read- 
ing,   meditation  and    prayer.     An    individual  with  a   good 
plain  English  education,  and  a  mind  well  stored  with  scrip- 
ture and  historical  knowledge,  is  better  prepared  to  make  a 
good  and  useful  citizen,  than  that  man  who  has  been  polish- 
ed for  years  within  the  walls  of  a  college,  and  far  better  pre- 
pared to  make  a  good  and  successful  minister  of  Jesus  Christ, 
when  God  converts  his   soul,  and  fills  it  with  holy  zeal  and 
burning  love   for  God  and  all  mankind.    Can  our  wise  and 
learned  men  account  for  the  simple,  but  astounding  fact,  that 
in  the  early  days  of  Methodism,  though  she  was  frowned  on 
and  despised  by  the  wise  and  great  men  of  this  world,  and 
her  preachers  were  generally  unlearned  men,  yet  she  fought 
her  way  triumphantly  through  every  opposing  difficulty  to  a 
high  and  holy  eminence  in  piety,  in  numbers  and  in  influence ; 
and  now  in   these  last  days,  we  have  raised  up  colleges  and 
seminaries  of  learning  in  abundance,  and  our  learned  men, 
our  D.D.'s  abound  everywhere,   while  our  beautiful  fabric, 
raised  up  by  the  zeal  and  piety  and  faith  of  -our  unlearned 
fathers,  totters,  and  God's  house  is  divided  in  twain,  which 
portends,  by  divine  authority,  speedy  ruin  ;  even  now  dis- 
cord abounds  through  our  ranks  generally  North  and  South ; 
confidence  is  fearfully  shaken,  and  the  prospect  before  us,  to 
every  pious,  rational  mind,  is  anything  but  prosperous  !     May 
all  not  lean  on  the  world   for  support,  either  its  money,  its 
popularity,  or  its  polished  learning,  but  return  to  the  feet  of 
Jesus,  and  there  learn  to  do  our  first  works  over  again,  that 
we  may  live  and  not  die ! 


JOHN  HERSEY.  207 


FATHER  KERSEY'S  PUBLICATIONS. 

Father  Hersey  was  an  author  of  some  pretentions,  and  his 
books  had  a  ready  sale  in  his  day.  His  works  may  not  be- 
long to  that  class  which  will  be  acknowledged  in  the  list  of 
publications  in  the  future,  but  they  possess  no  mean  merit. 
Whatever  was  the  subject  of  their  treatise,  was  carefully  di- 
gested, the  thoughts  were  practicable,  plain  and  homely,  in- 
culcating the  truths  that  were  the  embodiment  of  his  inner 
and  outward  life.  They  are  fit  companion  pieces  of  his  ut- 
tered sentences ;  in  letters,  sermons  and  addresses  every  line 
possesses  wholesome  admonition,  and  are  logically  expressed 
in  language  well  chosen  and  forcible.  Whatever  topic  he 
discusses,  is  so  carefully  handled  as  to  indicate  maturity  of 
thought  before  written  expression.  Apparently,  he  wrote  as 
though  the  eye  of  God  was  peering  over  his  shoulders,  trac- 
ing e*very  word  his  pen  was  inditing.  He  had  a  belief  that 
for  the  truth  and  error  of  his  printed  pages  he  must  answer 
in  the  last  great  day. 

Below  is  appended  a  list  of  his  publications,  embracing 
all  his  larger  and  important  books : 

An  appeal  to  Christians  on  the  subject  of  Slavery.  Publish- 
ed by  Armstrong  &  Plasket,  Baltimore,  in  1833. 

Importance  of  Small  Things.  By  the  same  publishers  and 
in  the  same  year. 

Inquiry  into  the  Character  and  Condition  of  our  Children, 
with  Some  Remarks  on  Baptism. 

Advice  to  Christian  Parents. 
Life  of  At.  De  Renty. 

These  three  volumes  were  originally  published  separately. 
They  were,  however,  embraced  in  one  volume  and  thus  pub- 
lished by  Armstrong  &  Berry,  Baltimore,  in  1839. 

Practical  Thoughts  Selected  from  the  Works  of  John  Wes- 
ley, A.M.  Published  by  Armstrong  &  Berry  during  the 
year  1836. 

The  Privilege  of  Those  who  are  Born  of  God  ;  or,  a  Plain 
Rational  View  of  the  Nature  and  Extent  of  Sanctification. 
Published  by  Armstrong  &  Berry,  in  the  year  1841. 


-208  SKETCH  OF 

Prayer.  Its  Duties  and  Privileges.  By  the  same  publish- 
ers, during  the  year  1853.  So  great  was  the  demand  for 
this  work,  that  the  first  edition  was  exhausted  soon  after 
publication,  and  a  second  edition  followed  in  1854. 

The  Design,  Importance  and  Validity  of  Infant  Baptism. 
Also,  a  few  thoughts  on  the  mode  of  administering  that 
ordinance.  By  the  same  publishers  in  1855. 

The  Identity  of  the  two  Apocalyptic  Witnesses.  Their  Char- 
acter, Death  and  Resurrection  as  Connected  with  the  In- 
troduction of  the  Millenium.  Same  publishers,  in  1857. 

Satan  Unmasked,  the  Human  Heart  Unveiled,  and  the  Mys- 
teries of  Revelation  Made  Plain.  Same  publisheis,  in 
1862. 


LETTERS. 

The  following  extracts  are  arranged  according  to  the  dates 
of  the  letters  from  which  they  are  taken. 

To  REV.  T.  M.  C. 

>  June  6th,  1856. 

•Your  esteemed  favor  in  reply  to  mine  of  a  former  date  has 
been  duly  received.  *  *  "*  After  I  left  Harford,  I  visited 
Baltimore  and  Philadelphia,  and  then  proceeded  on  a  tour  to 
the  West.  Spent  some  time  in  Cincinnati,  and  then  visited 
Indianapolis,  the  seat  of  the  General  Conference. 

The  city  was  very  much  crowded,  and  nothing  of  interest 
before  the  Conference,  so  that  I  soon  returned.  Like  poor 
Balaam,  my  way  seemed  to  be  hedged  up  at  almost  every 
step.  I  was  afflicted  for  two  months,  almost  incessantly  with 
a  pain  in  my  side,  and  became  very  hoarse,  so  I  returned  to 
Baltimore,  where  I  am  better  known  than  in  the  far  West. 

It  was  not  my  intention  to  hav.e  taken  any  regular  work 
during  the  present  year,  but  the  firigcr  of  Divine  Providence, 
I  hope,  directed  my  steps  to  a  little  Circuit,  in  the  bounds  of 
the  Philadelphia  Conference.  Since  I  reached  this  barren 


JOHN  HERSEY.  209 

field  of  labor,  my  health  has  very  much  improved.  Sabbath, 
after  preaching  three  times,  leading  two  classes,  and  walking 
about  ten  miles,  I  found  the  pain  in  my  side  had  left  me,  nor 
did  I  feel  any  perceptible  fatigue  either  of  body  or  mind. 

Oh,  to  grace,  how  great  a  debtor,  daily,  hourly  and  mo- 
mentarily I'm  constrained  to  be.  The  hard  end  of  the  oar,  is 
my  appropriate  place,  and  I  have  no  doubt  if  our  young  min- 
isters would  labor  more,  it  would  be  abundantly  more  benefi- 
cial to  their  own  souls,  and  profitable  to  the  Church,  than  the 
course  which  is  too  often  pursued  in  modern  times.  It  is  not 
earthly  wisdom  and  talent  and  eloquence  we  need  ;  we  want 
more  deep  piety,  more  grace,  more  wisdom  from  above,  more 
genuine  humility,  more  zeal,  more  faith,  and  abundantly  more 
love  for  God,  and  all  mankind.  We  want  more  of  Christ,  in 
our  hearts,  and  less  of  self,  more  of  Heaven  and  less  of  earth. 

I  have  long  seen  and  lamented,  the  barren,  naked  state  of 
the  Church,  in  contrast  with  what  she  should  be,  but  I  have 
never  witnessed  a  more  gloomy  spectacle  than  this  Circuit 
presents.  Almost  dead,  twice  dead  and  plucked  up  by  the 
roots.  One  good  house  abandoned,  and  another  about  to  be 
given  up,  because  there  are  neither,  members  nor  hearers. 

In  the  immediate  vicinity  of  one  of  these  deserted  churches, 
the-  members  have  built  a  new  house  in  modern  style,  large 
and  costly,  and  have  incurred  a  large  debt,  which  must  weigh 
them  down  for  years,  if  they  are  ever  able  to  pay.  There  is 
however,  one  consoling  circumstance  in  their  favor,  the  preacher 
in  charge  is  an  humble  unassuming,  plain  workingman,  a  man 
of  good  common  sense.  May  he  and  his  poor  colleague  be  ren- 
dered a  blessing  to  this  people,  and  cause  this  barren  spot  to 
vegetate,  and  bring  forth  fruit  to  the  glory  of  God. 


latter  to  Bro.  R- 


November  21st,  1856. 

*******  Strive  to  have  things  at  the  Quarterly 
Meeting  straightened  up  in  regard  to  the  Church.  Let  no- 
thing be  deferred  until  to-morrow,  that  can  be  done  to-day. 

Carelessness  is  as  nearly  related  to  sin,  as  the  shadow  is  to 
the  substance.  It  stands  both  as  cause  and  effect;  hence  I  fear 
greatly  for  the  religion  of  this  day.  I  fear  we  are  daubing 
vrith  untempered  mortar.  We  are  at  case  in  Zion,  and  must 
meet  the  awful  anathema  of  woe  unto  them  that  are  at  ease  in 


210  SKETCH  OF 

Zion.  And  if  our  beloved  Saviour's  words  are  true,  we  must 
be  spued  out  of  his  "mouth,  for  we  are  at  best  only  lukewarm, 
when  compared  with  the  politician,  the  merchant,  the  farmer, 
the  mechanic  or  even  the  gold-digger.  Oh,  that  I  could  sound 
an  alarm  in  Zion,  which  might  reach  to  the  deepest  recess  of 
my  own  heart,  and  awaken  and  alarm  a  slumbering,  worldly 
minded,  lukewarm  Church. 

JV.  B.    Omit  that  dingy  t  dangerous,  hateful  title  of  "Rev."  (?) 

To  the  Same. 

September  1st,  1857. 

I  am  still  striving  to  enter  in  at  the  straight  gate  which 
leads  to  that  city  where  sin  has  never  stained  the  soil,  nor 
contaminated  the  pure  air  breathed  by  the  inhabitants  of  that 
healthful  region.  I  am  fully  aware  that  nothing  impure  or 
unholy  can  enter  that  blessed  world  of  life  and  peace  and  joy, 
nor  can  the  grave,  nor  old  age,  nor  human  merit  efface  or  re- 
move one  stain,  one  spot  or  wrinkle.  Nothing  but  the  blood 
of  Jesus  applied  by  faith  can  purify  our  souls,  and  qualify 
us  for  a  home  in  heaven;  and  if  the  next  hour  may  close  our 
earthly  career  and  usher  us  into  the  unveiled  presence  of  a 
pure  and  Holy  God,  it  behooves  us  as  wise  and  rational  be- 
ings to  be  always  ready,  and  well  prepared  to  meet  the  bride- 
groom, who  will  come  at  an  unexpected  hour,  and  may  come 
the  next  moment. 

"How  careful  then  ought  I  to  live,  with  what  religious  fear; 
Who  such  a  strict  account  must  give,  for  my  behavior  here." 

I  hope  you  and  yours  are  living  with  a  single  eye — one 
object  and  one  aim  in  all  things,  and  that  aim  and  object  to 
please  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  None  but  the  pure  in  heart 
can  see  God,  and  if  our  motives  in  all  things  are  not  to 
please  God,  our  hearts  (the  fountain  of  all  our  thoughts  and 
natures,)  cannot  be  pure,  and  if  God  was  to  admit  into  heav- 
en, one  impure  thought  or  unholy  word,  it  would  operate  like 
leaven  and  contaminate  the  whole  heavenly  world.  Many 
professors  of  our  day  feel  conscious  that  they  are  not  now 
pure  in  heart — that  they  are  living  beneath  their  gospel  priv- 
ileges— but  hope  and  intend  (vain  hope,)  to  secure  the  spot- 
less wedding  garment  before  they  die.  Yet  they  live  care- 
lessly, scarcely  fasting  one  day  in  the  week,  and  evidently 


JOHN  HERSEY  211 

living  at  ease  iu  Zion,  notwithstanding  the  woe  of  G-od  which 
rests  upon  their  heads.  Were  an  adept  at  gambling  to  bet 
his  opponent  one  million  of  dollars  to  one  on  a  single  game 
of  chance,  he  would  be  esteemed  a  fool,  and  yet  every  one 
who  lives  carelessly  one  hour  without  a  pure,  a  holy  heart,  is 
acting  far  more  foolishly ;  he  is  risking  on  the  chances  of  a 
moment,  the  loss  of  his  soul,  which  is  of  infinitely  more  value 
than  all  the  world,  yet  he  risks  another  throw  of  life's  dice  in  ex- 
pectation that  he  will  not  die  yet.  In  view  of  our  folly  and 
stupidity,  our  heavenly  Father  exclaims,  "Oh,  that  my  peo- 
ple were  wise,  that  they  understood  this,  that  they  would 
consider  their  latter  end."  While  all  heaven  is  interested  for 
guilty,  dying  man,  he  is  careless  of  his  own  salvation,  and 
laughs  and  sports  and  slumbers  on  the  crumbling  verge  of  a 
burning  hell.  Oh,  arm  of  the  Lord  awake — awake,  thine 
own  almighty  strength  put  on,  and  snatch  guilty,  careless  dy- 
ing man  from  the  gulf  of  eternal  misery. 


Letter  to  a  Friend. 

Baltimore,  December  15tb,  1857 

Your  esteemed  favor  of  the  llth  inst  has  been 
duly  received.  ******  jn  regard  to  the  request  you 
make  that  I  should  mention  the  questions  you  will  probably 
be  called  upon  to  answer  in  your  examination  for  Deacon's 
orders,  I  presume  they  will  be  such  as  you  have  heard  pro- 
pounded to  every  candidate  for  such  orders.  A  few  questions 
of  general  import  are  always  asked,  such  as  "  The  fall 
of  man,"  "Total  Depravity,"  "The  nature  and  extent  of 
the  Atonement,"  "Justification  by  Faith,"  and  generally  some 
of  a  more  distinctive  nature,  respecting  our  own  Church  views 
of  doctrine  and  discipline.  Universal  Redemption,  Sanctifi- 
cation,  The  difference  between  Justification  and  Sarictification, 
Is  Faith  the  gift  of  God,  or  the  act  of  the  creature  ?  Is  Sanc- 
tification  an  instantaneous  or  gradual  work?  Or  is  it  both  the 
one  and  the  other  ?  Upon  all  these  topics  I  presume  you  arc 
qualified  a"nd  prepared  to  give  prompt  and  satisfactory  answers. 

However,  the  nature  and  extent  of  the  questions  asked  on 
such  occasions  depend  very  much  upon  the  character  and  views 
of  those  who  examine  the  candidate.  Our  Divine  Master  asks 
you  and  I  an  important  question,  addressed  originally  to  Peter: 


212  SKETCH  OF 

"Lovest  thou  me?"  This  I  consider  a  fundamental  point  of 
inquiry,  and  if  we  can  answer  unwaveringly,  unequivocally 
and  understandingly,  it  will  cover  perfectly  all  the  minor 
points,  and  secure  for  us  all  we  can  either  ask  or  desire,  viz : 
the  immutable  promise  or  assurance  of  our  Lord  Jesus,  by  his 
servant  Paul,  "All  things  shall  work  together  for  good  to 
them  that  love  God."  This  precious  promise  renders  us  inde- 
pendent, and  places  us  above  our  most  inveterate  foes,  so  long 
as  we  continue  to  love  God.  And  every  man  that  has  this 
hope  in  him,  purifies  himself  even  as  he  (God,)  is  pure."  He 
purifies  by  asking  himself  honestly,  Are  my  affections  pure  "i 

Do  we  not  in  part  love  the  world,  its  money  or  pleasures,  its 
smiles,  the  good  opinion  of  men  ?  and  do  we  feel  as  willing  to 
be  poor  as  to  be  rich,  as  willing  to  be  persecuted  and  despised 
as  to  be  honored  and  applauded  ?  Alas,  how  hard  it  is  to  have 
the  gold  mad*  perfectly  pure.  It  requires  the  furnace  to  be 
heated  more  than  seven  times  hotter  than  was  Nebuchadnezzar's. 

Yet  the  gold  is  so  precious,  and  the  place  where  it  is  ulti- 
mately to  circulate,  so  glorious,  that  no  dross  or  alloy  can  be 
admitted  into  those  pure  regions,  and  into  the  presence  of  the 
King  of  Kings,  and  Lord  of  Lords.  Oh,  may  we  be  well 
prepared  to  stand  that  last — that  final  examination,  in  the 
presence  of  the  llighteous  Judge  of  all  the  Earth. 


Letter  to  the  same. 

Baltimore,  May  18th,  1858. 
I  left  Baltimore  early  in  April,  and  visited  New 
York,  where  I  settled  my  first  and  last  debt ;  one  which  has 
been  standing  more  than  forty  years.  My  creditor  has  been 
dead  many  .years.  I  found  his  son  and  widow,  in  very  needy 
•circumstances,  which  rendered  the  little  act  of  justice  in  pay- 
ing a  few  hundred  dollars,  a  real  pleasure.  The  young  man 
thought  it  strange  indeed  that  any  one  would  hunt  for  a  debt 
-of  more  than  forty  years  standing,  and  as  he  could  find  no 
record  against  me,  he  very  willingly  and  thankfully  gave  me 
a  receipt  in  full  of  all  demands  from  his  father's  estate  ;  so 
that  I  can  now  say  what  I  could  not  say  for  the  last  forty 
years,  viz :  I  owe  no  man  anything,  or  rather  no  man  can  now 
say,  that  J.  H.  owes  him  anything  but  good  will  and  love. 

"Oh,  to  grace  how  great  a  debtor, 
Daily  I'm  constrained  to  be." 


JOHN  HERSEY.  213 

Praise  the  Lord,  oh,  my  soul.  The  day  in  which  we  live  is 
one  of  very  peculiar  character.  There  is  passing  over  our 
world,  and  especially  over  large  and  wicked  cities,  a  wonder- 
ful cloud  of  mercy.  Never  before  has  there  been  such  a  reli- 
gious influence.  In  that  most  wicked  city,  whose  principal 
street  bears  a  most  appropriate  name,  Broadway,  which  indeed 
it  seems  to  be,  where  thousands  on  thousands  are  pressing 
onward  eager  to  secure  eternal  damnation  ;  where  every  spe- 
cies of  wickedness  abounds  and  excels  ;  there,  religion  occu- 
pies a  most  eminent  position.  Prayer  meetings  are  being 
held  daily  from  twelve  to  one  o'clock  in  different  churches, 
and  other  places,  even  in  the  theatre,  where  crowds  assemble 
to  pray,  leaving  their  daily  business  ;  merchants,  mechanics, 
laborers,  lawyers  and  even  learned  Eabbis.  They  mingle  to- 
gether without  respect  to  name  or  party,  and  appear  to  be  ia 
good  earnest.  In  Philadelphia,  the  same  scenes  are  daily 
exhibited.  Jayne's  Hall  it  is  said,  holds  from  three  to  four 
thousand  people,  which  is  crowded  daily.  Surely  this  means- 
something.  It  is  in  my  humble  opinion,  an  unmistakeble  evi- 
dence that  the  Master  in  coming,  the  bridegroom  is  at  the  very 
door.  The  important  inquiry  should  be,  Are  we  ready  for  the 
great  event? 


Letter  to  a  Friend. 

Mechanicsburg,  Dec.  15th,  1858. 

I  left  Baltimore  yesterday  (Tuesday)  morning,  or  I  would 
have  called  at  your  house  again.  The  weather  has  been  veryr 
wet  and  gloomy  since  I  reached  Mechanicsburg.  From  a  re- 
mark you  made  the  morning  I  called  at  your  store,  I  feared 

you  supposed   that  a  part  of  my  sermon   at Street 

Church  was  personal  and  intended  particularly  for  yourself. 
I  am  seldom,  if  ever,  personal  in  preaching;  but  to  thrust  \v;m- 
tonly  a  dagger  at  the  kindest  friend  1  have  on  earth,  would 
be  an  act  unworthy  of  a  Christian  name,  and  to  slight  or 
garble  God's  gaered  word  and  message  to  sinners,  lest  (-nine 
friend's  feelings  .should  be  thereby  wounded,  would  disgrace 
my  Billing,  dishonor  my  Master,  and  shut  me  out  of  heaven. 
In  regard  to  my  remarks  on  that  occasion,  I  know  there  were 
some  things  that  would  be  applicable  to  you,  but  if  you  had 
not  been  present,  those  remarks  would  have  been  more  point- 
ed than  they  were.  For  this  deviation  from  the  strictest  rules. 


214  SKETCH     OF 

of  eternal  justice,  I  humbly  hope  my  merciful  Master  will 
pardon  the  smaller,  as  well  as  greater  delinquency  of  his  un- 
profitable servant. 

The  day  in  which  we  live  calls  for  a  faithful  discharge  of 
every  duty.     I  was  alarmed  and  pained  at  the  Monday  night 

services  in .     That  an  old  Methodist  preacher  should 

leave  the  pure  waters  of  eternal  life,  and  the  plain,  whole- 
some doctrines  of  the  M  E.  Church,  and  lecture  on  wild 
speculative  subjects,  and  quickly  receive  unbounded  applause 
openly  and  publicly  given,  while  his  Master  impressively 
asks  :  "  How  can  ye  believe  who  receive  honor,  one  of  an- 
other?" How  the  preacher  of  righteousness  should  not  only 
speculate  but  administer  an  unmixed  cup  of  National  flattery 
to  his  blind  and  wandering  audience,  1  could  not  imagine. 
Take  the  speculation  away  and  admit  all  his  statements  to  be 
true,  it  was  not  calculated  to  effect  any  good  result.  Bro. 

says  he  is  about  to  explode  infidelity,  but  I  fear  he  will 

make  more  skeptics,  than  real,  genuine,  holy  Christians.  Per- 
haps, however,  I  am  among — not  only  the  old  fogies — but 
the  doubting  Thomas'.  Many  will  be  induced  to  suspect 
that  "the  root  of  all  evil"  lies  at  the  bottom  of  his  lectures. 
Money,  applause,  &c.  I  hope  this  is  not  the  fact,  but  though 
charity  thinketh  no  evil,  yet  charity  is  not  blind,  and  must 
see  the  mote  in  his  neighbor's  as  well  as  the  beam  in  his  own 
eye.  Perhaps  I  should  be  admonished  by  the  Lord  Jesus, 
when  he  said  to  Peter :  "What  is  that  to  thee  ?  Follow  thou 
me."  Amen.  Lord  help  me  so  to  do.  I  do  greatly  desire 
to  follow  my  Divine  Master  literally  when  that  can  be  done, 
and  spiritually  when  that  is  practicable,  and  in  good  faith 
in  all  things,  keeping  at  all  times  a  conscience  void  of  offense 
towards  God,  and  also  towards  my  fellow  mortals.  And  if  I 
cannot  be  an  humble  instrument  in  correcting  and  saving 
others,  may  I  at  least  save  my  own  soul,  however  difficult  the 
task  may  be.  Though  the  Apostle  says:  "If  the  righteous 
scarcely  be  saved,  where  shall  the  ungodly  and  the  sinner  ap- 
pear?" 


To  Rev.    T.  M.    C. 

Staunton,  July  26th,  1859. 

Grace,  mercy  and  peace  from   God,  the  Father,  and  from 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  be  with  you  and  yours  evermore.    The 


SKETCH  OF  215 

blessings  of  the  gospel  of  the  Son  of  God.  how  free,  bow  full, 
whether  they  flow  from  the  eternal — the  infinite  fountain — 
from  the  lips  of  Jesus,  their  author,  or  from  the  lips  of  His 
Holy  Apostles.  Enough  for  all — enough  for  each,  enough 
for  evermore.  And  yet,  alas,  how  slow  are  we  poor  mortals 
to  believe,  and  how  careless  to  secure  the  crown — the  king- 
dom— the  momentous  blessing  of  peace,  and  joy  in  the  Holy 
Ghost  The  pleasing  baits  of  sin — the  snares  of  Satan — the 
world ;  its  riches,  its  pleasures,  its  honors,  its  ease — how  they 
allure,  deceive,  entangle  and  destroy.  I  have  been  for  some 
time  past  in  Virginia,  where  the  Church  is  I  fear,  slumbering 
on  a  volcano,  asleep  in  the  arms  of  Satan.  Should  a  spark 
fall  into  the  magazine,  there  would  be  an  awful  explosion. 

The  Church  and  her  ministers,  have  it  is  greatly  to  be  feared 
bowed  the  knee  to  Baal.  They  fear  the  world,  the  opinion 
of  dying  men.  They  have  closed  their  own  mouths,  and  will 
have  a  fearful  account  to  give  in  the  great  coming  day.  A 
large  portion  of  the  Baltimore  Conference,  situated  among 
slaves,  are  in  a  most  unenviable  condition.  Nor  do  I  see  any 
safety  and  final  deliverance  but  in  the  favor  of  God,  the  strong 
arm  of  omnipotence,  and  I  greatly  fear  that  we  cannot  con- 
fidently claim  God's  grace  and  power  to  be  displayed  in  our 
deliverance  in  the  distressing  haur.  Oh  Lord,  in  mercy  hear 
prayer,  and  be  merciful  to  our  unrighteousness.  The  whole 
worli  is  in  commotion.  The  wicked,  the  unfortunate  nations 
of  Europe,  are  beginning  to  drink  the  cup  of  God's  wrath  that 
must  be  poured  out  on  our  guilty  world,  ere  "Righteousness 
shall  cover  the  earth,  as  the  waters  cover  the  great  deep." 

Well, .the  Kingdom  belongs  to  Christ.  He  has  the  power 
and  the  glory  shall  be  his.  He  that  sitteth  on  the  throne, 
ruleth  all  things  well.  The  wrath  of  man  shall  praise  thee, 
and  the  remainder  of  wrath  thou  shall  restrain.  Amen, 

Lord  Jesus,  take  to  thyself  thy  great  powers,  and  reign  in 
universal  righteousness. 


Letter  to  the  sa^ie. 

Alabama,  Dec.  13th,  1859. 

Strange  anl  unexpected  as  it  may  appear,  I  am  now  in  the 
far  sunny  Soath,  in  the  center  of  Alabama.     A  wealthy  man, 

Gen.   C ,  who  spends  his  winters  in  this  State,  and  his 

summers  in  Virginia,  pressed  me  to  accompany  him  to  this 


JOHN  MERSEY.  216 

State,  promising  to  pay  my  expenses  here  and  back  to  Balti- 
more. As  I  commenced  my  Christian  ministry  partly  in  this 
•State  and  county  nearly  forty  years  since,  and  hoping  that  the 
kind  finger  of  Providence  prompted  the  movement,  I  con- 
sented to  his  proposition  His  estate  is  near  the  village  of 
(jreensboro,  in  Green  county,  where  wealth  abounds  as  well 
as  slavery  in  abundance.  The  slaves  are,  however,  said  to 
be  treated  well,  and  are  happy  and  contented  in  their  condi- 
tion. To  give  you  some  idea  of  the  wealth  of  this  county,  I 
need  only  say  that  when  the  M.  E.  Church  recently  estab- 
lished a  college  here,  in  the  town  of  Greensboro,  two  of  our 
members  gave  each  twenty-five  thousand  dollars,  another 
twelve  thousand.  One  family  gave  thirty-eight  thousand  dol- 
lars. You  will  at  once  see  the  difficulties  which  lie  before 
me,  and  will,  I  hope,  pray  for  me,  that  I  may  have  grace  and 
wisdom  to  declare  the  whole  counsel  of  God,  fearlessly  and 
faithfully  ;  giving  to  all  their  portion  in  due  season.  That  I 
may  not  be  turned  away  one  hair's  breadth  from  the  truths 
•of  the  gospel,  by  the  smiles  of  wealth,  nor  deterred  by  the 
frowns  of  men  and  devils.  I  have  not  one  doubt  on  my 
mind,  but  that  wealth  and  literature  are  two  of  the  greatest 
•obstacles  on  earth  to  the  spread  of  vital  godliness  in  the 
world.  It  is  not  logical  to  reason  from  extreme  cases,  but  I 
will  notice  the  influence  exerted  principally  by  those  powerful 
agents  here.  There  are  eight  preachers  attached  to  the  Col- 
lege, aud  living  in  the  village,  yet  the  church  is  literally 
dead.  Pride  and  indifference  reign  predominant.  No  preach- 
ing except  on  Sunday.  I  stopped  with  a  friend  where  one  of 
the  principal  professors,  who  is  a  Methodist  preacher,  boards. 
I  asked  the  landlord,  "What  is  your  hour  for  evening  pray- 
er ?"  He  replied:  "We  have  no  prayers  here!"  And  yet 
he  was  very  willing  and  anxious  to  have  prayers,  and  has  be- 
come quite  serious.  I  preached  twice  on  Sunday  to  a  large, 
cold,  formal  congregation  of  whites,  and  once  to  a  colored 
congregation,  where  a  little  of  the  old  Methodist  fire  was  still 
burning.  Many  of  the  slaves  will  shine  in  heaven,  while 
their  masters  will  weep  in.  hell.  I  am  sure  you  will  sympa- 
thise, and  also  rejoice  with  me  in  regard  to  my  journey  to 
this  country.  The  family  of  one  of  the  professors  was  placed 
in  my  charge,  viz:  the  mother,  and  six  children,  one  an  in- 
fant, and  a  young  girl,  with  eight  large  trunks  to  look  after. 
The  constant  hurry  and  bustle — changing  from  train  to  train, 
and  from  train  to  boat,  was  anything  but  pleasant.  However, 


JOHN  HERSEY.  217 

through  the  gooduess  of  God,  we  all  arrived  safe  without 
loss  or  accident,  for  which  I  feel  truly  thankful,  and  glad  that 
I  am  once  more  a  free  man. 


To  Bro.  R- 


Jackson,  Tenn.,  Deer.  4th,  1860. 

What  are  you  and  yours,  and  all  my  friends  doing 
in  these  days  of  darkness,  whilst  the  clouds  are  gathering  and 
thickening  over  our  heads,  and  the  distant  thunder  of  division 
and  discord  and  restlessness  loudly  proclaim  a  coming  storm 
of  ruin  for  our  sin-defiled  world  ?  Nothing  but  sin  (that  thing 
which  alone  God  hates,)  can  give  strength  to  pain  and  fear  and 
suffering.  If  this  be  so,  then  are  we  the  authors  of  our  own 
maladies,  and  as  wise  men  we  know  the  remedies.  The  rem- 
edy is-  a  proper  application  to  the  soul,  of  the  balm  of  Gilead, 
the  precious  blood  of  Jesus.  We  should  begin  here  at  home, 
with  our  own  hearts,  and  honestly  inquire,  Am  I  what  I  ought 
to  be?  Am  I  what  God  would  have  me  to  be  ?  If  not,  let  us 
not  t6rry;  let  us  not  confer  with  flesh  and  blood  ;  let  us  make 
no  compromise  with  an  evil  world,  nor  with  our  own  wicked 
hearts.  Was  every  one,  minister  and  member,  to  begin  with 
him  or  herself,  and  never  rest  until  his  or  her  heart  was  fully 
renewed  in  the  image  of  God;  cleansed  and  purified;  the  carnal 
mind  destroyed,  and  the  mind  which  was  in  Christ,  fully 
imparted  to  us  —  as  our  Wesley  finely  expresses  it: 

A  heart  in  every  thought  renewed,  and  full  of  love  divine; 
Perfect,  and  right,  and  pure  and  good,  a  copy,  Lord,  of  thine. 


soon  would  our  sin  discordant  world  become  a  paradise, 
and  God  dwell  in  our  midst  ?  Then  would  idle  men,  and  tempt- 
ing devils  plan  their  work  of  destruction  and  discord  in  vain. 

If  therefore,  we  know  the  cause  of  the  disease,  and  the  un- 
failing remedy,  why  do  not  men  act  like  men,  rationally,  fear- 
lessly, wisely,  and  have  their  own  hearts  thoroughly  reformed. 

*  I  greatly  fear  that  all  our  maladies,  all  the  evils  among  men, 
and  they  are  very  great,  immeasurably  great,  will  be  laid  to 
the  account  of  the  Church.  Christ  says:  "Ye  are  the  light  of 
^^^•^ne"  world,  ye  are  the  salt  of  the  earth,"  and  adds,  "If  the 
light  that  is  in  thee,  be  darkness,  how  great  is  that  darkness, 
and  if  the  salt  has  lost  its  savor,  its  saving  influence,  it  is 
henceforth  good  for  nothing  but  to  be  cast  out,  and  trodden. 


218  SKETCH  OF 

under  foot  of  men."  Union  is  life,  division  is  death.  This 
principle  is  applicable  to  Church  and  State.  It  is  philosoph- 
ically true,  when  the  body  is  perfectly  united,  it  is  life,  but 
death  dissolves  every  adhering  particle,  producing  only  putre- 
faction and  ruin  The  Church  which  should  be  the  salt  of  the 
earth,  and  should  save  the  world,  is  not  prepared  or  qualified 
to  stand  like  Abraham  pleading  for  a  devoted  city.  We  can 
not  consistently  pray  for  the  union  and  safety  of  our  country, 
whilst  we  ourselves  are  in  a  state  of  discord.,  Sectarian 
prejudice  rules  most  of  us  more  rigidly  than  the  authority 
of  God.  The  death-like  complexion,  however,  is  not  the 
worst  symptom  of  our  disease;  pride,  envy,  sloth,  ingratitude, 
selfishness  and  love  of  the  world,  its  money,  its  pleasures,  its 
honors  spread  their  dark  traits  of  misery  and  death  all  through 
our  Ecclesiastical  body.  "The  whole  head  is  sick,  and  the 
whole  heart  is  faint  from  the  crown  of  the  head  to  the  sole  of 
the  foot,  there  is  nothing  but  bruises  and  wounds  and  putre- 
fying sores."  This  is  a  dark  picture,  yet  it  is  painfully  true. 

O,  when  will  the  Church  shake  the  world  out  of  her  lap, 
and  assert  her  real  dignity,  and  shine  forth  in  the  image  of 
God,  clothed  with  the  garments  of  salvation,  and  richly  cov- 
ered with  the  robes  of  righteousness. 

As  it  regards  myself,  I  am  still  drifting  about  on  the  waves 
of  uncertainty,  a  stranger  in  a  strange  land,  who  is  still  point- 
ing others — poor  sinners — to  the  Lamb  of  God,  who  taketh 
away  the  sins  of  the  world.  Yet^  perhaps,  while  I  mark  out 
the  straight  and  narrow  pathway  to  heaven,  I  do  not  strictly 
and  uniformly  walk  therein  myself.  Lord  help  me,  all  my 
help  must  come  from  thee.  Oh,  may  I  not  foolishly  throw 
stones  at  others,  whilst  there  remains  one  blot,  or  wrinkle, 
or  spot  of  sin  or  selfishness  in  my  heart. 


Letter  to  a  Friend. 

August  2nd,  1861. 

Through  the  forbearing  mercy  and  unbounded  goodness  of 
God,  I  have  been  preserved  in  safety  and  brought  to  see  an- 
other anniversary  of  my  life  on  earth.  This  day  I  am  seventy- 
five  years  old.  Few,  very  few,  reach  that  advanced  period 
of  existence.  I  do  not  feel  any,  or  if  any,  very  few  of  the 
infirmities  of  old  age,  with  the  exception  of  my  teeth.  They 
are  nearly  all  gone,  yet  I  can  labor  as  efficiently  in  my  Lord's 
vineyard  as  I  could  forty  years  ago.  Can  preach  three  times 


JOHN  MERSEY.  219 

in  the  day  and  walk  eight  or  ten  miles  and  feel  no  percepti- 
ble fatigue,  except  yesterday  and  to-day,  being  extremely 
warm,  and  the  time  of  my  weekly  fast,  and  having  walked 
too  much,  I  have  felt  weak,  and  unable  to  labor  much.  Some 
months  since,  in -Tennessee,  I  preached  seventeen  sermons  in 
one  week,  including  two  Sabbaths,  and  felt  no  fatigue,  but 
went  immediately  to  a  protracted  meeting  at  Holly  Springs, 
Miss.,  and  labored  there  for  sometime  without  any  sense  of 
weakness.  Oh,  to  grace  how  great  a  debtor  ;  daily,  hourly 
and  momentarily  I'm  constrained  to  be.  Surely  I  have  been 
more  highly  favored  than  any  other  person  ever  has  been, 
and  I  should  be  abundantly  more  humble  and  holy  and  grate- 
ful and  faithful  than  I  am  or  have  been.  I  see,  and  to  some 
extent  feel  my  nothingness  and  my  unprofitable  character  be- 
fore God.  I  cannot  yet  fully  and  reasonably  and  understand- 
ingly  adopt  the  Apostle's  sentiment,  when  he  said  :  "Unto 
me,  who  am  less  than  the  least  of  God's  saints,  is  this  grace 
given."  Nor  even  this,  when  he  exclaims  :  "I  am  crucified 
with  Christ,  nevertheless  I  live,  yet  not  I,  but  Christ  liveth 
in  me,  and  the  life  which  I  now  live  is  by  the  faith  of  the 
Son  of  God."  I  find  that  self  is  not  yet  dead'.  I  am  not  as 
willing  to  be  hissed  at  and  despised,  as  to  be  honored  by  men; 
and  yet  I  must  die  with  Christ  to  all  worldly  and  selfish  ob- 
jects, or  I  cannot  rationally  expect  to  live  with  arisen  Saviour 
in  heaven.  And  yet  I  humbly  hope  that  during  the  past 
year  I  have  grown  in  grace,  at  least  measurably.  Oh,  that 
hereafter,  I  may  be  willing  to  be  led  by  the  Spirit  of  God, 
knowing  that  such  only  are  the  sons  of  God.  I  spent  most 
of  the  summer  of  I860  in  Missouri  with  my  relatives,  and 
intended  to  spend  the  approaching  winter  in  Alabama,  the 
climate  being  mild,  and  I  had  there  been  kindly  treated  and 
apparently  successful  in  my  efforts  to  save  souls.  But  the 
Southern  people  had  said  if  Abraham  Lincoln  was  elected 
President  of  the  United  States,  they  would  secede  from  the 
Union,  in  which  case  I  would  not  go  down  there  to  spend 
the  winter.  After  preaching  on  Sunday,  a  sister  came  to  me, 
an  old  acquaintance  from  Virginia,  and  urged  me  to  visit 
their  place  in  Jackson,  Tenn.,  saying  that  they  had  not  had 
any  revival  or  religious  life  for  eight  or  ten  years.  I  believed 
it  to  be  a  providential  call,  and  went.  I  remained  there 
about  eighteen  days  and  preached  all  the  time,  except  one 
sermon  and  a  piece  of  one.  In  that  time  there  were  over  130 
converts  added  to  the  church.  I  therefore  desire  to  say  in 


220  SKETCH  OF 

future  with  the  Psalmist :  "  Thou  shalt  guide  me  with  thy 
counsel,  and  afterwards  receive  me  to  glory."  Oh,  may  it 
be  so.  Amen. 

A  dark  cloud  now  overshadows  our  Nation,  and  the  desola- 
tory  scourge  of  civil  war  is  sweeping  over  the  whole  land, 
with  the  besom  of  destruction,  yet  God  will  overrule  all  for 
good-.  "The  wrath  of  man  shall  praise  Thee,  and  the  remain- 
der of  wrath  Thou  wilt  restrain."  The  Church  must  drink  a 
deep  and  bitter  cup  of  God's  wrath  before  sin  shall  be  de- 
stroyed and  righteousness  established  on  earth.  All  our  dis- 
cordant opinions  must  and  will  be  burned  up  before  the  will 
of  God  is  done  on  earth,  as  it  is  in  heaven.  That  day  will 
come.  Lord  hasten  the  time  when  the  kingdom  of  God  shall 
be  gloriously  established  on  earth ;  when  all  shall  be  of  one 
heart,  and  one  mind.  When  the  sword  shall  be  beat  into- 
plow-shares,  and  the  spears  into  pruning  hooks,  and  all  shall 
dwell  together  as  one  great  family  of  God  on  earth.  Come, 
Lord  Jesus,  and  come  quickly.  Though  all  the  wicked  shall 
be  destroyed,  it  must  and  will  be  so.  Then  shall  the  right- 
eous shine  forth  as  the  sun  in  the  kingdom  of  God,  and  peace 
and  righteousness  shall  cover  the  earth  as  the  waters  the  great 
deep.  Oh,  may  I  be  ready.  No  mark  of  the  beast  in  my 
heart  or  in  my  forehead,  but  the  perfect  image  of  God  in- 
scribed on  my  heart,  and  the  Spirit  of  Christ  richly  implant- 
ed in  my  renewed  and  purified  nature.  Amen. 


To  the  same. 

January  1st,  1862. 

Through  the  abounding  and  almost  miraculous  mercy  and 
goodness  of  God,  I  have  been  brought  to  see  and  realize 
the  commencement  of  another  year  of  my  pilgrimage  on 
earth.  Though  now  well  advanced  in  my  seventy-sixth  ye^r 
upon  earth,  the  Lord  enables  me  to  preach  and  labor  in  L.<j 
vineyard  as  efficiently  as  I  could  forty  years  ago.  With  tta 
exception  of  a  weakness  in  my  back,  I  feel  very  little  of  the 
effect  of  old  age.  A  few  weeks  since  I  preached  on  Sabbath 
three  times,  rode  twelve  or  fifteen  miles  and  administered  the 
Sacrament  alone,  and  felt  no  perceptible  fatigue.  The  next 
Sunday  I  preached  three  times,  and  rode  twelve  or  fifteen 
miles,  and  still  felt  no  fatigue.  On  Monday  morning  at  six 
o'clock  I  preached  to  a  good  congregation  in  Camden,  Del., 
though  it  was  raining  quite  fast.  Having  taken  a  cold,  how- 


JOHN  HERSEY  221 

ever,  I  have  become  quite  hoarse,  and  preached  in  Dover 
with  some  difficulty  to  large  congregations  morning  and  even- 
ing. Last  night,  being  still  quite  hoarse,  I  attended  a  watch 
night  meeting  at  Kenton,  with  no  ministerial  help,  and  with 
but  little  from  the  laity.  I  preached  a  long  sermon,  and  we 
lengthened  out  the  services  until  the  old  year  expired,  and 
after  renewing  our  covenant  with  God,  by  singing  the  Cove- 
nant Hymn,  and  by  prayer,  we  welcomed  in  the  new — the 
untried  year — by  singing,  "Praise  God  from  whom  all  bless- 
ings flow.  Praise  Him,  all  creatures  here  below,  &c."  I 
preached  in  Smyrna  to  a  tolerable  congregation  upon  the  im- 
portance of  redeeming  time.  Eph.  v:  16.  But,  alas,  here 
we  are  all  guilty  and  condemned.  We  have  trifled  with  God. 
We  have  murdered  our  time,  impoverished  our  own  souls, 
and  grieved  the  Spirit  of  God.  Oh,  thou  offended,  but  mer- 
ciful Lord  God  of  heaven,  pardon  for  Christ's  sake  my  stu- 
pidity, my  folly  and  my  unbelief.  Oh,  Lord,  enable  me  by 
Grace  Divine  to  redeem  my  few  remaining  moments  of  time 
wisely  and  diligently.  Create  in  me,  Oh,  God,  a  clean  heart, 
and  renew  within  me  a  right  spirit,  even  the  Spirit  of  Christ, 
who,  when  he  was  reviled,  taunted  not  again,  and  with  his 
expiring  breath  prayed  for  his  murderers.  I  ask  not  for 
earthly  good,  life  or  money,  or  fame  or  ease  ;  but  the  Spirit 
of  my  Lord  and  Master.  That  love  that  beareth  all  things, 
that  endureth  all,  that  believeth  all  things — all,  yea,  every 
word  that  is  written  in  thy  book.  Oh,  God,  that  I  may  be 
strong  in  faith,  giving  glory  to  God  for  all  things,  and  under 
all  circumstances.  Knowing  well  that  all  things  shall  work 
together  for  good,  if  I  do  love  the  Lord,  my  Redeemer,  the 
Holy  One  of  Israel.  Amen.  Lord  help  me,  for  all,  yes  all 
my  help  must  come  from  Thee.  My  cold  and  cough  increas- 
ed, so  that  I  concluded  to  take  the  cars  on  Friday  and  spend 
a  few  days  in  Wilmington  with  my  kind  friends.  Having 
promised,  however,  to  preach  at  Raymond's  on  Thursday 
night,  I  concluded  to  do  so,  although  it  was  very  imprudent 
in  my  then  state  of  health.  However,  after  preaching,  and 
particularly  after  a  most  unpleasant  night,  in  which  I  got 
but  little  sleep,  through  mercy  I  felt  much  better  of  my 
cough,  and  at  the  pressing  request  of  a  brother  I  consented 
to  remain  in  Smyrna  over  Sabbath.  In  the  morning  I  preach- 
ed too  long,  yet  felt  but  little  worse.  At  night  I  preached 
again  with  more  than  usual  liberty  and  physical  energy.  The 
was  large  and  very  attentive.  After  passing  a 


222  SKETCH  OF 

restless  night  I  awoke  feeling  much  better  of  my  cold,  and 
came  in  the  cars  to  Wilmington,  where  I  was  most  warmly 

received  by  my  very  kind  friend,  J.  S.  K .     Here,  I  am 

too  comfortable  for  a  servant.  Every  convenience  and  com- 
fort that  this  world  can  afford.  Oh,  may  I  not  be  lured  away 
from  the  cross  of  Christ  by  the  smiles  of  this  alluring  world 
and  the  kindness  of  friends. 


To  Rev.  T.  M.  C. 

Baltimore,  June  20th,  1862. 

I  had  hoped  to  hear  before  this  time  that  our 
friends  had  buried  the  hatchet,  and  the  log  too,  and  all  their 
unchristian  feelings  towards  each  other.  But  I  have  not 
heard  from  them  since  I  gave  them  a  plain  talk  on  Sabbath 
morning,  when  I  was  poorly  able  to  talk,  much  less  preach. 

It  appears  to  me,  that  we  live  in  the  day  John  spoke  of  in 
the  book — the  mysterious  book  of  Revelation,  when  he  says, 
"Woe  unto  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth,  and  of  the  sea,  for 
the  devil  has  come  down,  having  great  rage,  because  he  know- 
eth  that  his  time  is  but  short."  May  it  soon  end,  and  Satan 
and  all  his  dark  hosts  shall  be  bound  and  cast  into  the  prison 
prepared  for  the  devil  and  his  angels.  Our  Saviour  also  men- 
tions a  time  which  corresponds  with  the  dark  days  in  which  we 
live,  when  he  says  :  "Suppose  ye,  that  I  am  come  to  send 
peace  on  earth  ?  I  tell  ye  nay,  but  rather  division.  From 
henceforth  there  shall  be  five  in  one  house  divided;  three  against 
two,  and  two  against  three.  The  father  shall  be  divided 
against  the  son  and  the  son  against  the  father;  the  mother 
against  the  daughter,  and  the  daughter  against  the  mother, 
the  mother  in-law  against  the  daughter-in-law,  and  the  daugh- 
ter-in-law against  the  mother-in-law.''  Well  it  must  be  that 
offenses  cometh,  but  woe  to  him  by  whom  they  come.  But 
as  Christ  said  to  Peter,  "What  is  that  to  thee  ?  Follow  thou 
me."  We  cannot  control  or  harmonize  the  Church  or  the 
WTorld,  but  we  can  manage,  ancl  by  the  grace  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  we  can  and  should  manage  our  own  heart.  We 
can  fear  Grod,  and  keep  his  commandments  always;  even 
when  he  says,  "When  you  are  smote  on  one  cheek,  turn  the 
other,  and  if  any  man  sue  the  at  law,  and  take  away  thy  coat, 
let  him  have  thy  cloak  also."  Anything  on  earth,  rather  than 
contend  with  our  brother,  or  with  our  neighbor,  or  any  man 


JOHN  HERSEY.  223 

on  earth,  even  our  worst  enemy.     When  Christ  commands  us 
not  to  lay  up  treasures  upon  earth,  we  can  avoid  doing  it. 

When  he  says  :  "When  ye  make  a  dinner  or  a  supper,  call 
not  your  friends  or  rich  neighbors,  but  call  the  poor,  and  the 
maimed,  and  the  halt  and  the  blind."  This  also  we  can  do. 

But  alas,  who  in  this  world  regards  the  word  of  the  Lord 
Jesus?  It  is  to  be  feared  they  are  few  and  far  between.  Lord 
what  will  become  of  our  guilty  world?  The  Lord  Jesus  says, 
that  when  he  comes  he  will  dispose  of  them  as  the  Antedilu- 
vians were  disposed  of.  Will  all  who  are  not  Christ's  be  in- 
cluded in  that  number  ?  In  all  probability  the  number  will 
not  be  few,  if  Paul's  declaration  be  true  when  he  says  :  If  any 
man,  rich  or  poor,  bond  or  free,  have  not  the  spirit  of  Christ, 
he  is  none  of  his.  When  Christ  was  reviled,  he  reviled  not 
again,  but  with  his  expiring  breath,  prayed  for  his  murderers. 

If  all  who  have  not  that  spirit  must  fall,  as  did  the  Ante- 
diluvians, it  will  include  a  great  multitude.  Christ's  spirit 
would  prevent  war,  and  abolish  slavery,  and  every  other  evil 
on  earth.  Oh,  why  should  not  all  secure  that  spirit,  since 
God  is  more  willing  to  give  it  to  them,  than  a  father  is  to  give 
a  good  gift  to  his  own  children.  Therefore,  all  should  be 
righteous  and  holy. 

As  regards  myself,  my  health  is  very  poor.  Some  days  I 
feel  much  better,  again  worse,  so  that  it  is  pretty  certain  that 
my  days  on  earth  are  fast  drawing  to  a  close ;  nor  have  I  any 
objection  to  leave  this  sin  disordered  world,  except  that  I 
have  been  such  an  unprofitable  servant.  I  feel  ashamed  of 
myself — ashamed  to  meet  my  Divine  Ruler,  who,  all  through 
life,  toiled  and  labored  in  tears  and  sweat  and  blood  to  re- 
deem my  soul  from  endless  death. 

There  is  another  difficulty — the  condition  of  the  world  and 
of  the  church  and  of  our  own  once  highly  favored  country. 
Yet  my  staying  here  would  not  better  these  evils.  And  in- 
deed as  I  arn  too  old  to  learn,  my  longer  stay  on  earth  would 
not  in  all  human  probability  better  my  country  or  the  world, 
or  the  church,  or  my  own  soul.  I  desire,  therefore,  to  say, 
with  David,  understandingly  and  honestly:  "Thou,  Oh,  God, 
shall  guide  me  with  thy  counsel,  and  afterwards  receive  me 
into  glory."  Since  the  day  I  preached  at  Kbcnezer  and  Friend- 
ship, I  have  not  attempted  again  to  preach.  My  energies  of 
mind  seem  also  dwarfed,  and  I  have  no  resolution  to  read  or 
write  or  talk.  I  recently  went  to  hear  one  of  our  most  pop- 


224  SKETCH  OF 

ular  preachers  lecture  on  the  Book  of  Revelation,  and  it  was 
so  wild  and  dark  that  I  felt  ashamed.  It  waked  me  up,  and 
I  sat  down  and  wrote  a  short,  plain  explanatory  epistle  on 
that  mysterious  book,  and  I  do  wish  you  could  see  and  read 
it.  It  surely  presents  views,  new  and  old,  and  cuts  the 
Church  to  the  quick,  and  makes  us  far  more  clearly  acquain- 
ted with  the  character  and  devices  of  Satan  and  the  deformi- 
ties of  our  own  heart. 

I  may  publish.  It  should  be  done.  Yet  I  am  too  old  to 
have  it  done.  Well,  we  will  leave  all  the  future  with  God, 
just  where  it  should  be.  Don't  fail  to  write  soon.  Remem- 
ber me  affectionately  to  all  Christian  friends. 

The  good  Lord  bless  you  all  and  give  you  all  a  home  in 
heaven.  Amen. 

CONCLUSION. 

The  author  has  much  to  regret  in  the  conclusion  of  his 
work.  He  deplores  the  scanty  materials  at  his  disposal  out 
of  which  to  write  a  correct  and  concise  history.  There  are 
errors  of  arrangement  apparent  which  he  deplores  and  which 
under  the  press  of  circumstances  he  could  not  avoid.  A  few 
other  errors  of  a  typographical  character  have  made  their 
appearance,  but  despite  the  defects  of  his  imperfect  execu- 
tion he  has  sought  accuracy  in  every  statement,  and  he  sends 
forth  this  sketch  of  the  life  of  Father  Hersey,  with  the  con- 
sciousness that  what  is  recorded  may  be  accepted  as  the  truth. 
The  reader  will  remember  that  more  than  ordinary  difficul- 
ties have  been  encountered  in  collecting  what  appears  in 
these  pages.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  not  a  member  of 
any  Annual  Conference,  he  was  simply  a  local  preacher.  His 
ministerial  labor  was  self-imposed  as  a  duty  of  obedience  to 
the  will  of  God.  He  was  subject  to  no  other  command  than 
the  divine  injunction,  "  Go  ye  into  all  the  world  and  preach 
my  gospel."  He  selected  his  own  fields  of  service,  and  his 
own  methods  of  operating  them.  He  roamed  over  large 
sections  of  the  country  at  his  own  will ;  he  had  no  connected 
plan  of  visitation.  Whenever  a  field  opened  before  him 
there  he  would  present  himself;  hence,  there  cannot  be  ren- 
dered a  continuous  history  of  his  services,  for  no  record  of 
it  is  obtainable.  Reference  has  heretofore  been  made  in 
these  pages  to  the  disappearance  of  portions  of  his  diary ;  it 
is  also  to  be  added,  that  the  probability  is  that  many  of  his 


JOHN  HERSEY.  225 

letters  and  other  papers  were  destroyed  by  the  fire  that  de- 
vastated Henry  G.  Berry's  book  store  several  years  since. 
Mr.  Berry,  it  will  be  recollected,  is  the  survivor  of  the  old 
firm  of  Armstrong  &  Berry,  who  were  the  publishers  of 
Father  Hersey's  books.  Their  store  was  a  place  where  he 
frequently  repaired.  In  a  room  up  stairs  he  kept  his  papers 
in  a  pine  box.  He  set  much  value  upon  them.  He  was 
systematic  in  filing  them  away.  It  is  unknown,  however, 
whether  he  kept  a  written  account  of  his  daily  movements 
until  an  advanced  stage  in  his  life.  But  what  will  strike  the 
reader  as  the  most  incomplete  part  of  this  "sketch"  (sketch 
is  all  that  is  claimed  for  it,)  is  in  relation  to  his  earlier  years, 
his  co-adjutors  of  that  period  could  not  be  found.  Diligent 
and  persistent  inquiry  has  not  enabled  us  to  penetrate  the  se- 
cret of  his  earlier  years,  beyond  what  we  have  narrated,  but 
they  were  not  his  eventful  days. 

They  never  are  in  any  one's  history,  and  while  it  would  have 
been  agreeable  to  have  had  a  more  complete  chronicle  of 
them,  yet  if  any  part  of  his  biography  must  be  meagre,  it  is 
preferable  that  it  should  exist  at  the  start  and  not  elsewhere. 
Since  the  day  of  his  conversion,  enough  of  him  has  been  saved 
from  the  wreck  of  oblivion  to  transmit  to  those  who  are  to  be 
our  successors,  a  tolerably  clear  idea  of  this  extraordinary 
servant  of  God.  And  who  will  say,  that  he  was  not  an  ex- 
traordinary man ;  in  every  page  of  his  life  it  is  manifested. 
He  was  as  unlike  a  pattern  of  your  usual  classes  of  men  as 
could  be  developed.  He  was  one  who  in  his  oneness  stood 
conspicuous,  not  a  conspicuosity  that  was  painful  to  behold. 
It  was  not  brazen,  it  was  not  effrontery,  it  was  not  an  intend- 
ed cultivated  mannerism  adopted  as  a  mere  eccentricity  to 
distinguish  him  from  others,  No,  there  was  a  positive  prin- 
ciple underlying  the  substratum  of  it  all,  and  that  was  so 
apparent  as  to  save  him  from  that  remorseless  criticism  that 
lays  its  violent  hand  upon  your  mere  pretenders  who  artifi- 
cially undertake  to  rear  for  themselves  originality,  when 
there  can  be  none.  You  had  but  to  look  upon  the  features 
of  Father  Hersey's  face  to  satisfy  yourself  that  you  were  in 
the  presence  of  a  real  man,  who  Jid  not  for  a  moment  seem 
conscious  that  you  wore  calculating  the  difference  existing 
between  himself  and  others  in  respect  to  general  demeanor 
of  manner  and  dress;  and  after  all  you  were  more  favorably 
impressed  than  otherwise  by  his  singularity.  Probably,  it 
never  appeared  to  such  advantage  as  when  he  heralded  the 


JOHN  HERSEY.  226 

tidings  of  salvation  from  the  pulpit.  There  was  an  authori- 
ty in  hi*  appeals  that  seemed  imperative;  the  serious  air  and 
solemn  admonitions  earnestly  and  forcibly  expressed,  witness- 
ed how  deeply  he  was  moved  in  the  discharge  of  his  minis- 
terial functions.  Nor  was  he  without  the  gifts  of  oratory; 
and  yet  that  rule  of  his  life  that  dictated  plainness  in  all 
.things  pertaining  to  himself,  moved  him  to  the  use  of  plain- 
ness of  speech  whether  in  the  pulpit  or  out  of  it.  He  was 
no  star  that  sought  to  be  conspicuous  by  startling  brilliancy, 
but  one  giving  a  clear  steady  light  and  shining  so  distinctly 
as  to  attract,  by  mere  reason  of  its  clearness.  The  distinc- 
tive feature  of  his  career,  was  the  honest  consistency  that  led 
him  to  model  his  life  after  patterns  of  the  New  Testament. 
He  had  drank  of  the  bitter  waters  in  earlier  years  ;  the  steel 
had  entered  his  flesh  ;  his  quivering  heart  had  yielded  to  the 
voice  of  the  heavenly  call.  He  preached  no  formal  doctrine 
to  which  he  was  a  stranger;  he  was  an  example  as  well  as  a 
teacher.  He  dreaded  the  tendency  towards  innovations;  the 
old  standards  he  regarded  as  perfect;  he  was  bewildered  at  all 
attempts  at  changing  them.  Possibly,  he  might  not  have 
held  so  tenaciously  to  his  extremes  had  he  not  beheld  so  great 
a  general  departure  from  primitive  methods  He  sincerely 
believed  destruction  awaited  the  Church  in  consequence,  and 
he  w-arred  and  warned.  He  was  a  living  admonition  ;  and  the 
day  may  come  when  his  example  shall  be  recalled,  and  his  life 
of  exemplary  self-sacrifice,  shall  be  the  instrumentality  of  res- 
cuing our  Zion  from  the  jaws  of  that  inertness  that  over- 
powers it.  His  ministerial  qualifications  were  of  a  superior 
order.  He  possessed  no  negative  qualities;  he  was  pre-emi- 
nently fitted  to  preach  the  word.  He  was  clerical  in  all  his 
actions,  sensitive  to  the  uttermost,  always  on  guard,  lest  by 
word,  look  or  bearing,  he  should  reflect  upon  himself  and 
bring  reproach  upon  the  cause  which  he  represented.  Purity 
with  him  towered  above  all  other  considerations.  His 
heart  was  the  citadel  of  such  religious  faith  that  there  was 
no  room  in  it  for  any  other  armor  than  what  was  called  for 
in  the  service  of  his  Master.  He  was  the  embodiment  of 
charity,  and  they  who  read  these  sketches  will  find  that  John 
Hersey  did  not  neglect  to  look  after  the  poor,  and  lend  a 
hand  for  their  relief;  in  doing  uf  which,  he  was  convinced 
that  it  was  as  much  enjoined  upon  him  as  it  was  to  preach. 
He  performed  it  as  one  of  the  duties  of  his  ministerial  calling. 
Could  the  tears  of  the  poor,  their  words  of  unutterable 


227  SKETCH  OF 

warmth  of  gratitude  expressed  in  "God  bless  you,"  and  show- 
ered upon  John  Hersey's  head  be  fashioned  into  a  monumen- 
tal column,  there  would  commemorate  his  memory  no  such 
imposing  monument  on  all  this  earth. 

That  his  ministerial  labors  were  successful,  admits  of  no 
controversy.  They  were  constant ;  he  was  an  untiring,  in- 
defatigable worker.  He  dwelt  in  continual  communion  with 
God,  He  was  His  companion,  he  traveled  with  Him,  and 
would  often  turn  from  the  road  side  and  entering  the  woods 
would  bend  the  knee  beneath  the  boughs  of  some  spreading 
tree  and  there  commune  with  Him.  No  other  person  was  at 
all  times  so  near  Him,  nor  did  he  ever  get  so  near  to  any  one 
else  as  to  his  Heavenly  Father.  No  wonder,  then,  that  he 
preached  seriously  and  powerfully.  He  had  an  analytical  mind, 
it  may  not  have  been  of  the  highest  order,  yet  it  was  more 
than  ordinary.  He  was  fluent ;  his  fuith  in  the  fulfilment 
of  all  of  God's  promises  to  man  was  unbounded,  and  when 
he  preached  he  impressed,  and  conviction  and  conversion  gen- 
erally resulted.  He  was  generous;  his  enlarged  Christian 
heart  throbbed  lovingly  towards  his  brethren  of  other  denom- 
inations than  his  own.  He  took  great  pleasure  in  minister- 
ing in  their  pulpits,  and  visiting  among  their  people.  He  was 
never  heard  to  speak  disparagingly  of  them  by  way  of  com- 
parison. In  fact,  he  was  so  thoroughly  without  selfishness, 
that  it  was  not  in  him  to  disparage.  He  could  no  more  do 
so  denominationally  than  individually,  and  he  could  do  neith- 
er. He  was  not  favorable  to  God's  people  contesting  with 
one  another  and  wasting  their  resources  so  unnecessarily.  He 
was  for  warring  against  the  evil  things  of  the  world  held 
under  the  dominion  of  sin,  and  in  such  a  crusade  he  clasped 
hands  with- men  of  other  creeds  than  his,  and  worked  with 
them  willingly  and  gladly. 

Of  course  such  a  life  could  have  but  one  conclusion ;  not 
marred  in  any  of  its  parts  since  the  days  of  its  consecration. 
Death  could  not  possibly  disfigure  it,  it  could  only  bring  out 
in  greater  prominence  the  glorious  revelations  that  encircled 
it.  The  test  of  a  well  lived  life,  is  how  the  dying  hour  im- 
presses the  one  who  is  passing  away.  Its  seriousness  cannot 
be  over  estimated,  nor  can  it  be  graphically  depicted.  0, 
how  precious  are  the  dying  triumphs  of  God's  saints ;  how 
their  exclamations  ring  in  unending  tones  in  the  very  throes 
of  dissolution.  The  church  treasures  such  legacies  ;  they  are 
the  grand  coronation  swellings  of  the  redeemed  soul's  lust 


228  SKETCH  OF 

earthly  song,  sung  for  the  encouragement  of  the  pilgrims  who 
tarry  awhile  longer  in  this  vail  of  tears.  We  listen,  and 
when  breath  and  song  are  hushed,  and  the  body  is  cold  in 
the  grave,  we  do  not  forget  it.  No,  no  :  from  the  cold  dust 
there  speaks  an  inspiration.  There  is  a  hope  and  an  encour- 
agement that  from  no  other  source  comes  with  such  quicken- 
ing emotion  ;  it  thrills  all  the  cords  of  our  being  and  makes 
us  resolve  "That  we  will  die  the  death  of  the  righteous,  that 
our  last  days  shall  be  like  his." 

All  the  churches  have  contributed  from  the  lips  of  their 
departed  worthies,  contributions  to  last  utterances  of  men 
whose  deeds  live  after  them.  These  utterances  are  beautiful 
and  inspiring,  but  no  church  has  furnished  such  examples  of 
Christian  triumph  and  resignation7  in  death,  as  have  fallen 
from  the  lips  of  Methodists.  Whether  our  emotional  relig- 
ion and  emotional  natures  cause  it,  or  whether  there  dwell 
more  of  the  Holy  Ghost  among  us,  I  shall  not  discuss,  but 
that  our  people  die  well,  and  in  their  last  moments  shout  vic- 
tory over  death,  and  with  an  unabated  eagerness  rush  into  the 
arms  of  the  Saviour  exultingly  has  been  too  often  attested  not 
to  be  recorded  as  a  fact.  Our  church  literature  is  rich  in 
this  department,  and  many  of  the  sententious  utterances  of 
our  dying  ministers,  have  been  incomparably  beautiful,  and 
if  collected,  would  make  a  volume  of  rare  excellence.  When 
John  Hersey  came  to  go,  he  departed  gracefully  and  grandly; 
the  winding  up  of  his  life's  chapter  is  a  glorious  testimonial 
in  behalf  of  the  religion  which  he  preached  and  practiced ; 
'  there  was  no  hesitation  on  his  part  to  depart.  How  cheerful 
the  Christian  patience  with  which  he  awaited  the  summons, 
"God  will  soon  call  me  and  I  am. ready  to  go,"  was  a  grand 
utterance,  and  when  the  night  came  and  he  stepped  across  the 
stream,  he  left  behind  him  a  dying  testimonial  that  must  have 
thrilled  the  angels  and  awakened  echos  of  rejoicing  in  the 
sacred  precincts  of  heaven,  as  his  last  utterance  '  Salvation, 
salvation,"  echoed  and  reverberated  throughout  all  its  space. 

Our  task  is  done ;  there  is  recovered  from  forgetfulness,  so 
much  of  our  departed  friend's  history,  as  is  embraced  in  these 
pages  ;  but  should  they  in  time  perish,  in  the  great  day  when 
judgment  is  held,  it  will  appear  that  there  is  one  who  will 
remember  and  award  his  servant,  John  Hersey,  with  a  crown 
of  glory  and  a  seat  at  the  right  hand  of  the  Father,  where 
may  we  all  appear  washed  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb. 


I 


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